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The NDIS overhaul passed through the Senate at 8pm last night, after an unrelated tax fix and 63 minor amendments. The savings target and power to cut support budgets will become law later today.

The final price of passing Labor’s NDIS bill had nothing to do with disability.

The Coalition already supported slashing the Scheme. Its demand was simply for Labor to fix the so-called “widow tax”, an unintended effect of its negative-gearing changes. Labor had promised to fix the problem later. Yesterday it agreed to act now. It wanted to pass its reform.

The deal unlocked Coalition votes. At about 8 pm, the Senate passed the NDIS bill with 63 government amendments. It returns to the House of Representatives this morning, where Labor’s majority makes final approval all but certain.

Some amendments do matter.

A new escalation path will allow participants who need continuous, 24-hour support to seek a plan variation after a category-wide funding reduction, but most of the changes focus on fraud. New offences target kickbacks, deception, false information, destroyed records and abuse by nominees. Whistleblower protections and enforcement powers are strengthened.

The central machinery remains. The overhaul is expected to cut projected Commonwealth spending by $37.8 billion over four years. It gives the minister power to reduce whole categories of participant funding by as much as 99 per cent. The new safeguard does not exempt high-needs participants; it just gives them a way to ask for money back.

More than 240,000 participants are expected to leave the NDIS over the next four years. Replacement services are not yet complete. Queensland is resisting. Western Australia has warned Canberra not to push costs onto the states.

Parliament found a way to pass the cuts. It has not yet shown where the people affected will go.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

The Senate passed the government’s NDIS overhaul on Tuesday night after Labor secured Coalition support.

The changes are about fraud, not preserving the scheme. The government’s final amendments fact sheet says providers will face a ban on kickbacks and new fraud offences; plan-management funding will be separated in new plans; and some debt and reassessment processes will change. The NDIA will also have to consider whether family or informal support is appropriate and if withdrawing support will create risk.

But the central architecture remains. Ministers retain powers to set funding rules and reduce selected support categories. Plan-variation pathways are confined to participants needing continuous 24-hour care.

The government says 63 amendments across both houses show it listened. A better test is who remains exposed. Inclusion Australia welcomed the extra protections but still opposed the bill. The Greens and crossbenchers also say the category-cutting and automated-decision powers are too broad.

The pressure now shifts to the states. Ministers expect foundational supports and Thriving Kids to carry the load. But these services don’t yet exist.

Senate passage: The Australian Parliament’s bill record shows the Senate agreed to the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill on 18 August. Because the Senate changed the bill, it must return to the House before Royal Assent.

Source: Parliament of Australia | Bill record

Final amendments: The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing published a fact sheet explaining anti-kickback offences, whistleblower protection, reassessment and debt safeguards.

Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | Official fact sheet

Greens condemn deal: The Australian Greens said Labor’s agreement with the Coalition abandoned people with disability and left the bill’s central funding and eligibility changes intact.

Source: Australian Greens | Political-party media release

Advocacy funding: The NSW Government committed $75 million to disability advocacy, information and representative organisations through five-year contracts. Twenty not-for-profits will receive funding, including almost $2 million for Side By Side Advocacy to expand statewide support regardless of NDIS status.

Source: NSW Department of Communities and Justice | Government media release

Easy Read update: Inclusion Australia published Easy Read information explaining the Senate amendments and what happens next. .

Source: Inclusion Australia | Disability representative organisation

Algorithm warning: People with Disability Australia welcomed a Senate motion calling for the abolition of the aged-care Integrated Assessment Tool but warned against repeating automated-assessment harms in the NDIS.

Source: People with Disability Australia — Medianet distribution copy

Federal government to pass NDIS overhaul for 'strong, safe and sustainable' scheme

ABC News reports on a plan-variation pathway for people needing continuous care, new integrity measures and the government’s intended eligibility changes, while noting the standards themselves are outside the bill.

Source: ABC News | Paywall: No

Controversial NDIS bill passes Senate with ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal

Guardian Australia reports that the amendments leave powers to reduce some support categories by up to 99 per cent and allow automated decision-making. It says the new plan-variation safeguard is limited to people needing continuous 24-hour care.

Source: Guardian Australia | Paywall: No

Controversial NDIS changes get last-minute green light as Labor cuts deal with Coalition

SBS News, carrying AAP, reports that the bill passed the Senate 28 votes to 12 after the government unveiled 63 changes across both houses.

Source: SBS News | Paywall: No

'Day of deals': NDIS reformed, 'widow tax' dead

The Australian Financial Review reports the NDIS vote as part of a wider day of government–Coalition bargains, including the withdrawal of the so-called widow tax. Its public preview adds Mark Butler’s claim that the states’ honour is now at stake in delivering alternative supports.

Source: Australian Financial Review | Paywall: Yes

NDIS deal puts premiers on notice as Labor, Coalition strike landmark pact

The Australian reports that resistance from Queensland and Western Australia is now central to the transition of about 240,000 people towards foundational supports.

Source: The Australian | Paywall: Yes

Mr Butler did well tightening the NDIS eligibility criteria

OPINION: The Australian’s editorial argues that tighter eligibility and shifting children with mild autism towards state services are necessary to control costs.

Source: The Australian | Paywall: Yes

Alleged $18m NDIS fraudsters Kingsley Ebelebe, Ifunanya Ebelebe in court

The Courier-Mail reports that two former government workers facing charges over an alleged long-running NDIS fraud appeared in Darwin Local Court proceedings.

Source: The Courier-Mail | Paywall: Yes

Disability advocate removed from Virgin flight over wheelchair motor dispute

ABC News reports Virgin Australia removed disability advocate Shane Hryhorec from a flight after staff misclassified his portable wheelchair motor as a battery. The airline apologised and is reviewing the incident; Hryhorec said he had lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Source: ABC News | Paywall: No