Politics

Heart, smarts and pragmatism: why health minister Mark Butler is suddenly a contender as a future PM

The Guardian Australia - Australian Politics · 15 August 2026 at 1:00 am

Heart, smarts and pragmatism: why health minister Mark Butler is suddenly a contender as a future PM

Cabinet colleagues say the veteran politician’s carriage of the NDIS firestorm shows his political judgement and collaborative style Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast On the day the health minister, Mark Butler, revealed plans for an overhaul of the National Disability Insurance scheme in Canberra in April, his cabinet colleague, Katy Gallagher, witnessed a major shift.

Outlining some $40bn in cuts to the NDIS – a policy the Labor faithful consider a core achievement of the Rudd-Gillard years – Butler sparked a huge backlash from the disability community and risked anger from the party’s rank and file.

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Heart, smarts and pragmatism: why health minister Mark Butler is suddenly a contender as a future PM

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