Labor accuses Peter Dutton of using Aukus submarine plan as ‘excuse’ to back NDIS cuts

Opposition leader offers broader bipartisan support for Aukus project, but criticises other defence spending cuts

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Labor has accused Peter Dutton of backflipping on bipartisan support for the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) and finding an excuse" to slash supports, after Dutton linked cuts to funding Aukus nuclear submarines.

The government services and NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, made the comments in a statement to Guardian Australia after the opposition leader doubled down on his offer of Coalition support if Labor wanted to make cuts to the program.

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