National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
Submission 226
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 have several family members with disabilities and run a small business with numerous NDIS clients. The NDIS is very important to me. It helps me support my family that are experiencing independence for the first time.
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 we 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 226
I also have other concerns about the Bill:
My other concern is about the potential to remove Equine Assisted Learning from
NDIS. This service improves children’s confidence, self-assurance, verbal and non-
verbal communication, focus, mindfulness, and coping strategies in a non
threatening way.
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,
Gina Scott