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.
- Bill 2024. I am a disability advocate.
The NDIS is a vital scheme for many people in this country & benefits many people in south west whom I assist.
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 supportspeople can get. People need support to live an ordinary life.
- Narrower Definition of Supports The new definition of supports are too narrow. It will excludeimportant supports that people need to be part of thecommunity and achieve their goals.
- Increased Powers for the NDIA The NDIA would have more power to make people undergoassessments or provide information. If people do not comply,their plans could be suspended or revoked. This could be veryhard for people with disability, especially during a crisis or if we
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.
I also have other concerns about the Bill: Future NDIS funding is to exclude services that include animals, except assistance animals. At our service we have a therapy dog & 1 of our team members provides equine therapy at her property. Animals can provide comfort & an inviting environment for our clients to be able to be comfortable to share their grief & challenges & help them work through these. We have many clients that have greatly benefited & achieved wonderful results with animal assisted therapy.
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,
Nita Ackland Practice Manager South West Wellbeing Centre