Coalition wants CGT inquiry before it backs NDIS reform

But the shadow minister for the NDIS says she doesn’t want the scheme used as a political football. Right, then.

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The coalition is threatening to tie passage of the government’s NDIS reform legislation to the establishment of an inquiry into Labor’s capital gains tax discount outlined in the recent federal budget.

While Liberal leader Angus Taylor dodged the question this morning, saying only that he would “work carefully” with the government to reach agreement on the NDIS reforms, his shadow treasurer Tim Wilson was not so reticent.

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Wilson, the member for Goldstein, said the threat to withhold support for the NDIS bill to force a CGT inquiry was not a threat, but a strategy for “maximum leverage”.

“If the government wants to have a conversation around NDIS changes, then they have to actually allow the Australian people to have their say about their tax changes that they didn’t take to the Australian community, and which are now punching down on the small businesses of this country,” he said.

“And so, we’re hoping the government will allow a process for them to have their say.”

Earlier on ABC Radio National Breakfast, shadow NDIS minister Melissa McIntosh said that although she didn’t want the NDIS used as a political football, if the standoff resulted in more time for the NDIS inquiry to do its work, then that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“It means that people get longer to have a say,” she said.

The bottom line is the Greens have refused to support the government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, which means Labor must make a deal with the coalition and independents to get the reforms through the senate.

Today’s debate in the House of Representatives was given over entirely to amendments to the bill proposed by the independent member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan.

Coalition MPs raised concerns about the potential use of automated decision-making and algorithm-driven assessments under proposed NDIS reforms, as the government faces mounting political pressure over passage of the legislation.

LNP MP Phillip Thompson said there “must be some sort of human oversight” over any automated processes used within the scheme.

“I think there should be some parliamentary scrutiny when we’re talking about anything that’s automated,” the member for Herbert told the house.

“You don’t want … your plan gets put forward … and somehow … an algorithm says it’s similar to that and similar to someone else’s … computer says you don’t need it,” he said.

Mr Thompson’s comments came amid broader debate over planned reforms to NDIS eligibility, reassessment and plan management processes designed to slow scheme growth and strengthen fraud controls.

Nationals MP Pat Conaghan also warned against “automated debt creation” and expanded compliance mechanisms without strong safeguards.

Citing recommendations from regional NDIS provider Riley Schaefer-Wilson, the member for Cowper argued the reforms should not proceed with “planned suspension, revocation, automated debt creation, expanded compliant burdens or reduced claim windows without strong review rights, disability adjusted communication requirements and human oversight”.

Mr Conaghan drew parallels with problems experienced during aged care reforms, warning of “algorithms that are inflexible and without recourse for amendment”.

“Clients in need are literally dying before being able to access the necessary levels of care,” he said, referring to problems experienced within home care assessment systems.

Labor MP and paediatrician Dr Mike Freelander also expressed reservations about the development of a “single assessment tool” under the reforms.

“It does worry me a little that we are looking at developing a single assessment tool,” the member for Macarthur said.

“I’m not sure that that is able to deal with the nuances of the psychosocial supports that are needed,” he said.

Dr Freelander also warned about challenges in “thin markets in rural, regional and remote areas” and stressed the importance of assessor training and oversight.

The Albanese government has defended the reforms as necessary to improve scheme sustainability, tighten integrity measures and better target support toward people with permanent and significant disability.

Assistant minister for immigration, foreign affairs and trade Matt Thistlethwaite told parliament the scheme was facing “real pressure” from escalating costs and fraud.

“The NDIS, unfortunately, has been a target for shonks and fraudsters who are seeking to exploit vulnerable people and syphon money away from those the scheme was designed to support,” he said.

The government said the reforms would strengthen fraud prevention through expanded provider registration requirements, digital payment systems and tighter oversight of support coordination and plan management.

But MPs across the chamber repeatedly stressed concerns about preserving participant trust and avoiding excessive bureaucratic or automated decision-making.