The Australian government will introduce 63 amendments to the NDIS bill
The Australian government will introduce 63 amendments to the controversial National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill following an agreement between the Labor Party and the Coalition. A Senate vote was scheduled for the evening of August 18, and the bill was expected to be supported by the Coalition, according to The Guardian World.
NDIS Ministers Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister stated that the government’s amendments will be introduced in both houses of Parliament. According to Butler, some of the changes are relatively technical, while others are substantial.
One of the amendments provides for a new mechanism to review individual plans for vulnerable NDIS participants whose budgets may be affected by the minister’s new powers. These powers allow for funding cuts of up to 99% for specific categories of support for all participants.
People with high support needs who require 24-hour continuous care will be able to apply for a plan review within 90 days after a support decision takes effect for them. At the same time, this change does not exempt any NDIS participant from a potential overall reduction in funding.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
David Pocock, an independent senator from the Australian Capital Territory, called this provision his main “red line.” According to him, indiscriminate cuts could affect hundreds of thousands of program participants. Pokok cited testimony from a Senate inquiry indicating that the changes could isolate people and increase the risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
The coalition also secured amendments that impose new criminal and civil penalties for offering or providing kickbacks using NDIS funding. Offenses subject to enhanced penalties include obtaining funds by fraud, providing false or misleading information, intentionally destroying documents, and abusing the status of a program participant’s representative.
The government’s plans to pass the NDIS amendments this week were nearly delayed due to the Coalition’s demand to first consider tax changes to close the so-called “widow’s tax” loophole. A vote on the relevant tax amendments was expected on the morning of August 19.
