‘Avoiding scrutiny’: Coalition and Greens fight to delay Labor’s major budget bills

SMH · Natassia Chrysanthos · Thursday 4 June 2026

‘Avoiding scrutiny’: Coalition and Greens fight to delay Labor’s major budget bills

The Senate could team up to derail Labor’s agenda, with the Coalition seeking a longer tax inquiry while the Greens want more time to investigate sweeping changes to the NDIS.

Fabius Maximus delayed Hannibal until the threat wore itself out — and the Senate's worked out you can do the same to a budget bill and call it scrutiny. Coalition wants longer on tax. Greens want longer on the NDIS. Two mobs that agree on nothing, holding hands at the one lever that does nothing. An inquiry's a paddock where a bill goes to forget the way home.

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