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Mark Butler turns 56 next month. At the moment, the opposition does not look ready to give him a birthday present by passing the NDIS legislation. The big question is if the Greens and Liberals will cooperate to press for an inquiry.

The Greens demand is simple: hold an inquiry and make changes to the NDIS legislation before the bill is passed. The coalition also has a simple price for voting with the Greens: vote with the conservatives for an inquiry into the tax changes.

Delay matters because Labor has already spent the money.

The Budget counts on the NDIS changes delivering $37.8 billion in reduced participant payments by 2030. Butler told ABC Insiders this morning that a 12-month delay would cost $17 billion. That is not a rounding error. It is deficit pressure Labor has hidden inside its Budget repair.

The current Senate inquiry reports tomorrow. That was meant to be the end of scrutiny. It may now be the beginning of delay.

David Speers put to Butler that the coalition was prepared to back a six-month extension of the NDIS inquiry if the Greens backed a similar delay to Labor’s tax inquiry. Butler accused Angus Taylor of using the NDIS as “a pawn in a bigger chess game”.

Both major parties want the bill to pass. Eventually.

But not yet. Not cleanly. Not without extracting a political price. Making Labor bleed.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

Butler and McAllister are now both saying the Senate committee report will be examined, unintended consequences may be acted on, and “constructive” changes are possible. The key to its passing depends on an alliance between the coalition and the Greens.

Both parties want the other to agree to broader inquiries exposing Labor reforms - the Greens want an investigation into the NDIS, while the coalition wants one into tax.

Last week’s evidence produced three pressure points: the states (saying they can’t absorb people removed from the Scheme); advocates (saying the bill shifts risk onto people with disability, women and carers); and the Coalition (looking not at amendment but delay).

The next test will come after the committee delivers their report tomorrow.

Data Watch: The number to watch remains the projected fiscal saving: $37.8 billion, because this is already built into Labor’s budget repair story. The government can accept process changes more easily than policy changes. A longer inquiry is inconvenient but a weaker savings profile is its real problem.

McAllister says government will examine NDIS inquiry recommendations but holds reform line

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister told ABC AM the government would examine the Senate committee’s recommendations, but insisted the central reform direction remained necessary and she would engage with stakeholders over access changes.
Senator Jenny McAllister | Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Butler uses Insiders to defend NDIS bill after inquiry evidence

Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler told ABC Insiders the NDIS had “got way off track”, rejecting claims people would die because of the reforms. He said contested treatment and access details would be worked through after legislation passes, rather than now.
Mark Butler | Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Government funds new Autism assessment and diagnosis resources

The Albanese Government is providing $455,000 to Reframing Autism, working with the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project and the League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues Australia, to develop accessible resources for Autistic people.
Senator Jenny McAllister | Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Monique Ryan calls on coalition to block legislation

The NDIS legislation - with its massive cuts to services, and its failure to address rorts and wasting - should not be passed by Parliament until it’s improved.

Carers Australia warns NDIS bill will shift costs and responsibility to carers

Carers Australia’s 12 June warns the new bill risks pushing responsibilities onto family and friend carers unless impact analysis, continuity safeguards, carer input and stronger supply-side cost controls are built into the reform.
Carers Australia

A4 says NDIS has backdated policy affecting vulnerable autistic children

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia says the NDIS has released a new version of a case-management guide affecting young autistic children seeking intensive evidence-based early intervention, including EIBI and ESDM supports. A4 argues the policy forces severely and profoundly autistic children into adversarial review processes against the NDIA.
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

WWDA says NDIS changes were slammed at inquiry

Women With Disabilities Australia said the Senate inquiry showed the new law shifts costs, care and risk to people with disability and families and excludes people from the Scheme.
Women With Disabilities Australia

Reframing Autism to lead new diagnostic journey resources

Reframing Autism says it will use the $455,000 federal grant to create inclusive, trauma-informed and non-pathologising resources across the Autism diagnostic journey, co-designed with Autistic people and autism-community partners.
Reframing Autism

Researchers warn tighter NDIS eligibility will hit women in multiple ways

Molly Saunders and Sophie Yates argue tighter NDIS eligibility will disproportionately affect women because women are already less likely to access the Scheme for disability supports and more likely to carry unpaid caring responsibilities.
UNSW Newsroom

Mark Butler hits back after 'extraordinary submission' against NDIS changes

ABC reports Butler defended the proposed NDIS changes against state and territory disability ministers’ warnings, left the door open to some adjustments, and said he would wait for the Senate inquiry report due this week before anticipating changes.
ABC News | Paywall: No

VIDEO: Mark Butler on the proposed NDIS reform

ABC published the Insiders interview clip in which David Speers questioned Butler after the three-day Senate inquiry, noting the government expects about 300,000 people to be either removed from or prevented from entering the Scheme under the proposed overhaul.
ABC News — video | Paywall: No

Angus Taylor using NDIS cuts as ‘pawn in bigger chess game’, Mark Butler warns

The Guardian reports Butler accused the Coalition of using the NDIS bill as leverage in a wider budget fight, as the Coalition and Greens consider moves to extend inquiries into Labor’s NDIS and tax legislation.
Guardian Australia | Paywall: No

Older Australians with motor neurone disease consider early euthanasia

ABC reports older Australians with motor neurone disease are considering premature voluntary assisted dying because people diagnosed after 65 are excluded from the NDIS and must rely on aged care instead. Samantha Dick reports Support at Home packages only offer $78,200 for care, far below the $300,000 available through the NDIS.
ABC News | Paywall: No

NDIS changes 'retrogressive' and out of step with review, MPs say

The Guardian reports a parliamentary human-rights scrutiny committee found parts of the proposed NDIS changes may be “retrogressive” and out of step with the independent NDIS Review, including concerns about access, human-rights obligations and reliance on mainstream services.
Guardian Australia — NDIS scrutiny | Paywall: No

Health Minister Mark Butler accuses states of 'posturing' after NDIS reform pushback

News.com.au reports Butler accused states and territories of “posturing” after their submission warned they could not provide like-for-like supports for people leaving the NDIS, while he defended the timing and direction of the reforms.
news.com.au | Paywall: No

Health Minister Mark Butler accuses states of exaggerating NDIS criticism

The Nightly carries AAP coverage of Butler’s response to state and territory concerns, reporting his claim that states were exaggerating their criticism while he continued to defend the proposed overhaul.
The Nightly | Paywall: unclear

Mark Butler rejects inquiry evidence, puts heat on states over NDIS reforms

The Australian reports Butler rejected key inquiry criticisms, pushed back against warnings from advocates and parents, and shifted pressure back onto states over alternative supports and the national cabinet deal.
The Australian | Paywall: Yes

NDIS compliance looms with 247,000 providers yet to be registered

Michael West Media reports looming mandatory registration rules could disrupt NDIS payments from 1 July, particularly for platform, SIL (living), and support coordination providers. Claudia Weisenberger reports 94% of providers remain unregistered.
Michael West Media | Paywall: No

Coalition mounts push to delay tax bill, NDIS cuts by six months

The AFR reports the Coalition offered the Greens a six-month NDIS inquiry in return for support for a longer inquiry into Labor’s tax changes, turning the NDIS bill into part of a broader Senate negotiation over the Budget package.
Australian Financial Review | Paywall: Yes

‘I do not want to go back’: NDIS cuts spark new fears

The Saturday Paper reports disability advocates’ fears after the inquiry, including DANA chief executive Mary Mallett’s warning that the conversations of recent weeks have revived memories of the pre-NDIS system.
The Saturday Paper | Paywall: likely

We can't deliver 'like-for-like-services' for people kicked off the NDIS, states warn Albanese government

Outside the supplied window but central to the weekend package: Guardian Australia’s 11 June story reported state and territory disability ministers warning they could not provide equivalent services for people removed from the NDIS and that people could end up in hospitals or with no services at all.
Guardian Australia — continuing coverage | Paywall: No

NDIS looks at impact of reforms for people with psychosocial disability: Evening News Bulletin 11 June 2026

Outside the supplied window but useful context: SBS reported Mind Australia’s evidence that the bill could put people with psychosocial disability at risk and that the proposed functional-capacity test may exclude people with severe mental health conditions.
SBS News — podcast | Paywall: No