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Labor wanted a fast NDIS inquiry and a clean path to savings. Instead, last week’s hearings turned the bill into a political wound. Three more days will not heal it and fingers are beginning to be pointed as the search for someone to blame begins.

The Government has bought itself three days. It won’t be enough.

The government is now realising the introduction of the NDIS changes have beome the worst disaster to beset the Albanese government since inception, four years ago. The final Senate committee report will now be released on Friday.

Last week’s hearings were particularly disastrous for Labor.

It’s own natural constituency turned against it. The government was portrayed as heartless. The opposition was given a chance to invert politics and act as the supportive defender of the marginalised.

People with disability, advocates, providers, state governments and medical experts did not hold back. They built a case against the changes, arguing the bill was rushed, under-modelled and unsafe.

Warnings support would be cut before replacement systems existed resonated so strongly precisely because they were true.

This is now a political problem, not just a policy one.

abilityNEWS understands there is anger inside government about how the bill was developed and sold. PM Anthony Albanese is angry the Government is being portrayed as taking away necessary supports from the poor and those who so obviously need it. Health Minister Mark Butler is understood to be angry about advice and assumptions underpinning the legislation that came from the NDIA and poor drafting by the government lawyers. NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister is understood to be deeply frustrated by the “push through” tactics that brought the sector to open revolt.

Three more days will not resolve this.

Labor’s back searching for a deal. The coalition leadership - under assault from the right by Pauline Hanson - don’t want to defend the NDIS but do want an inquiry into other tax changes. They’re offering a swap to the government.

Opposition NDIS spokesperson Melissa McIntosh wants the NDIS inquiry to continue. She’s fighting for people with disability and keeping the Government’s feet to the fire as she does so.

The Greens also want the inquiry to continue. It offers them political gold: a forum on which they can distinguish themselves from Labor on a key issue to engender support.

The delay matters politically because it breaks the Government’s rhythm. The smooth process of government is beginning to fall apart.

The real problem, though, is with the legislation. Solving this will take more than three days.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

The NDIS bill has moved from a deadline problem to a legitimacy problem for the government.

The Senate committee’s report has been delayed until Friday. At the same time, the NDIA has quietly clarified that unregistered SIL providers face a payment cliff from 1 October unless they meet new registration requirements.

Why this matters: This is no longer only a fight about future eligibility for the NDIS. It’s now also about whether people can trust the system to sequence reform safely before support is withdrawn or payments are blocked.

Data Watch: ABC 7.30 repeated the central reform numbers now driving the politics: more than 240,000 people expected to be shifted off the NDIS, 110,000 diverted, almost $38 billion in projected four-year savings, and current spending above $50 billion a year.

Bottom line: The bureaucracy is tightening the operational system while the politics of the legislation is still unsettled. The next inflection point is Friday’s delayed Senate report.

NDIA changes SIL payment and claims rules from 1 July

The NDIA says Supported Independent Living providers will need to use registration group 0138 for supports delivered from 1 July, while plan managers can still pay unregistered SIL providers for supports delivered up to 30 September if they delivered SIL before 1 July; from 1 October, claims can only be paid where SIL providers meet the new registration requirements.

NDIS

NSW funds local connection program for seniors and carers

The NSW Government says four organisations will be funded through the Connecting Seniors and Carers Program to provide clearer pathways to support and help older people and carers stay connected with their communities.

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

NDIS inquiry final report delayed to June 19

News.com.au reports the Senate committee examining Labor’s NDIS overhaul has delayed its final report from 16 June to 19 June, after public hearings and thousands of submissions. The report says Opposition NDIS spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh criticised the delay and the government’s timetable, while Labor is still seeking support to pass the bill before the winter break.

news.com.au — politics | Paywall: No

A Senate committee investigating the NDIS bill intended to save $185bn delays its recommendations

The Australian reports the Senate committee reviewing Labor’s NDIS reform bill has delayed delivering its report until Friday after more than 4,000 submissions and three days of hearings. The visible public preview says the delay came despite fears among Coalition sources that the committee would swiftly recommend the bill pass.

The Australian — politics | Paywall: Yes

Changes to NDIS has left participants with uncertainty

ABC 7.30 reports NDIS participants are facing uncertainty as Labor presses ahead with reforms expected to move more than 240,000 people off the Scheme and divert another 110,000 from joining. The program says the Senate committee’s report has been delayed until Friday, leaving the government with about two weeks to pass the legislation before the winter break.

ABC News — 7.30 | Paywall: No

NDIS participants highlight mental toll of navigating 'complex' system

ABC reports NDIS participants and advocates say plan cuts, reviews and uncertainty over future supports are causing physical and mental strain, including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. The story includes concerns from people with ME/CFS, autism and complex mental health issues, and quotes PWDA acting chief executive Megan Spindler-Smith warning that people are being told replacement systems will exist without clarity on who will be eligible or whether supports will meet need.

ABC News — Ballarat | Paywall: No

NDIS support worker jailed for sexually assaulting two female clients

ABC reports a Queensland NDIS support worker has been sentenced after sexually assaulting two female clients, including a 15-year-old girl who was partially blind and a 22-year-old woman with intellectual disability and mental health conditions. The story says the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission had already issued a two-year banning order and would consider further regulatory action after the court findings.

ABC News — Sunshine Coast | Paywall: No

The NDIS spent a year fighting our request to give our quadriplegic kid a wheelchair. Talk about wasteful

Guardian Australia publishes Natasha Sholl’s opinion piece arguing the proposed NDIS cuts wrongly imply disabled people and families are responsible for cost blowouts. Sholl writes that the NDIA fought her family’s wheelchair request for more than a year before the Administrative Review Tribunal overturned the decision.

Guardian Australia — opinion | Paywall: No

Meet the Wizards from Mulch who are reaping what they sow!

Region Canberra reports on Mulch, a Marymead-run not-for-profit in Weston Creek that gives NDIS participants hands-on gardening, sales and community participation opportunities. The story says NDIS funding remains necessary to keep staff supporting participants, while the future of Scheme funding is still uncertain.

Region Canberra — community | Paywall: No