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

Opposition and Greens could team up to extend inquiry into changes but health minister ‘utterly convinced’ federal government’s plan is right Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Mark Butler has doubled down on his plans to pass contentious NDIS changes as early as this month, warning the opposition against using the bill as a “pawn in a bigger chess game” as they consider a potential deal with the Greens. The Coalition and the Greens have criticised Labor’s truncated timeline to pass NDIS, negative gearing and capital gains changes, and have signalled they could team up against the government in the Senate to extend inquiries into the bills. Disability advocacy groups and NDIS providers roundly criticised the proposed NDIS change at public hearings last week while state and territory disability ministers argued they could not replace disability supports for the more than 200,000 participants expected to be shifted off the scheme by 2031. The health minister said he was “utterly convinced” the federal government’s plan was right, and that it shouldn’t be delayed for further consultatio