National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 104

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my concern with the proposed changes to the NDIS. While I do not use the service myself, the proposed bill is extremely concerning to me as I believe that care for vulnerable people should be a high priority for any community.

I believe there are changes that need to be made to improve the NDIS, but the bill in question looks to make the system significantly worse. The proposed changes not only reduce funding for vital services, but remove autonomy from disabled people and even raise debts, punishing those who rely on the NDIS. Care for disabled people must have as its guiding principle not only what the individual needs medically, but their autonomy and dignity in allowing them to choose providers of that care.

The disability activism community has a saying that I think is extremely relevant to situations like this, “nothing about us without us.” With this in mind I hope that any changes to the NDIS will be made in consultation with the people who use the service, and with consideration for their needs and dignity at the centre of every change that is made.

Kind regards,

Isobella Austin