Report by Labor-led joint human rights committee says cuts to the $50bn scheme could limit support for those in need

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Sweeping changes to the NDIS appear “retrogressive” and lack alignment with a landmark independent review to improve the $50bn-a-year scheme, a Labor-led committee has found.

The 57-page scrutiny report from the joint human rights committee, released on Friday, examined the proposed changes under the Albanese government ahead of a separate report due next week by a Senate inquiry. The Labor-chaired committee questioned the human rights implications of winding back access for more than 200,000 participants in the coming years, which could leave many without sufficient disability support.

Coalition also criticises swift timeline for proposed NDIS changes with Melissa McIntosh saying ‘we cannot forget that there are human lives at the other end’

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State and territory disability ministers have rung alarm bells over the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS, warning they can’t deliver “like-for-like services” for more than 200,000 participants expected to be shifted off the scheme by 2031.

The opposition, which strongly supports making the scheme more financially sustainable, has also criticised the swift timeline for proposed changes, with shadow NDIS minister, Melissa McIntosh, saying “we cannot forget that there are human lives at the other end”.

Human rights lawyers and refugee advocacy groups are lauding the decision as a ‘significant outcome’

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Millions of dollars in compensation could be paid out to more than 350 unlawful non-citizens held in indefinite detention after the high court ruled against the Australian government.

The ruling marks another blow for the Albanese government after its requirement that released members of the NZYQ cohort must wear ankle monitoring bracelets and abide by curfews was struck down as unconstitutional earlier this year.

Nauran government says its citizens are ‘friendly’ after MP spoke of serious threats allegedly made against former detainees

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The Nauruan government has issued a rare statement insisting it is a “friendly” and “welcoming” country after a whistleblower alleged “serious threats of physical violence” were made against a group of non-citizens removed there by the Albanese government.

The unexpected defence, sent shortly after midday on Thursday, was mounted hours after the independent MP Andrew Wilkie used his three-minute constituency statement to read claims from an anonymous whistleblower familiar with the arrangements of the secretive $2.5bn deal between Australia and Nauru.