National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1048
Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill
Dear Committee,
My name is Jan Forrest I am a school teacher and I am writing a submission because I am very concerned about the proposed amendments to the NDIS bill and the impacts they will have on the most vulnerable people in our society, disabled people.
I grew up in a time when people with disabilities were shut away in institutions and this was an appalling abuse that, thankfully, does not exist anymore. I then saw the institutions closed and disabled people placed in the community without adequate supports, it was horrific to watch and lot of disabled people ended up incarcerated, I am very concerned that we are heading back to a similar place.
When the NDIS was introduced I was working in a public school using what little funding we had to improve the lives and outcomes for students with disabilities. We are still underfunded but that is for another submission. I remember the feelings expressed by staff when the NDIS was introduced. We were so happy, and relieved, that the students that we were advocating so hard for would finally be able to get some of the care they needed and to gain independence. Not having to rely on handouts and charity for basic human dignity.
My biggest issue with these cuts is that they are being done without consultation with the people that are affected by them. I am not buying that the level of fraud is such that these cuts need to be made. If there is fraud it is certainly not people with disabilities who are getting rich, if fraud is the major concern then put the NDIS into government control, fraud could be monitored and the costs would certainly be much lower without a for profit level of administration involved. I am also very concerned that 160,000 people are to be removed from the scheme. Based on what criteria? Repeatedly when this question has been asked in parliament there has not been a satisfactory answer.
The changes are also being made expecting the States to start providing services. In a lot of cases those services do not even exist and the expectations for them are vague. I live in Queensland under an LNP government that is far more interested in locking up juveniles than starting programs to assist people with disabilities. If the states are expected to provide services then they need to be in place BEFORE any cuts are made.
The NDIS was a crowning achievement in the history of the ALP, now it runs the risk of becoming one of the biggest blots on your history. You really have to question your position when you have the likes of the Coalition and PHON egging you on. Just ponder that.
I would like to finish with a quote from a world leader, while not perfect, he said “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” We are a rich country and we can do much much better.
Regards
Jan Forrest