Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam has declared he will leave parliament before the end of 2026, marking another departure from the coalition's ranks. The announcement was made public in a live blog on Sunday, though no specific reason or timeline for his exit was provided.
Duniam's retirement comes as the government pushes forward with contentious reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Health Minister Mark Butler, who also oversees the NDIS, appeared on ABC's Insiders program to defend the changes against mounting criticism.
Butler acknowledged the NDIS as "the most significant social reform this country has made since Medicare in the '80s," but warned the program has "grown far too big" and become "a honey pot for shonks and rorters." He insisted his plan will secure the scheme's future.
However, people with disability and advocates have told a senate inquiry that the proposed changes could lead to deaths. Butler rejected those claims, asserting that the reforms are necessary to keep the NDIS sustainable for current and future participants.
The political fallout continues as Butler's assertions clash directly with disability advocates' testimony, raising questions about the adequacy of safeguards in the new framework. No official date for Duniam's departure has been set.