NDIA Accountability Project

Protecting supports for people with disabilities

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

Submission 156

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Australia Dear Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,

I am writing to share my concerns about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024. I am a disability advocate and I am worried that this Bill moves away from the original vision of the NDIS.

The NDIS is very important to me. It helps me support many people with disabilities. Specifically, Animal-assisted therapies can be a valuable therapeutic approach for individuals with disabilities, helping them improve their physical abilities, emotional well-being, communication skills, and self-confidence. By working with animals, individuals with disabilities can experience a unique and powerful therapy that addresses their specific needs and facilitates personal growth and development.

I am worried about the following parts of the Bill:

  • Reasonable and Necessary Budgets Changing from ‘reasonable and necessary supports’ to ‘reasonable and necessary budgets’ will limit the supports people can get. People need support to live an ordinary life.

  • Narrower Definition of Supports The new definition of supports are too narrow. It will exclude important supports that people need to be part of the community and achieve their goals.

  • Increased Powers for the NDIA The NDIA would have more power to make people undergo assessments or provide information. If people do not comply, their plans could be suspended or revoked. This could be very hard for people with disability, especially during a crisis or if they have complex needs.

  • Restrictions on Self-Managing Funding The NDIA could stop people from self-managing their funding if they have made mistakes before. This goes against the principle of choice and control.

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

Submission 156

Overall, I am worried that this Bill moves away from the original vision of the NDIS. The NDIS is meant to give people with disability choice and control over their supports. This Bill is more focused on saving money than helping people with disability.

I think the Bill should be paused or stopped. There should be real co-design with people with disability. We need changes that truly meet the needs of people with disability.

I urge the Committee to recommend significant changes to this Bill or making other moves to save money. There must be thorough consultation with people with disability and our representative organisations.

The NDIS is too important to get wrong. We must get this right, with people with disability at the centre of the process.

Thank you for considering my submission. I would be happy to provide more information if needed.

Yours sincerely,

Georgia Gilkeson