National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1212
28 May 2026
RE: Deep concerns regarding proposed NDIS funding cuts and automated decisions
Dear Mr Chaffey,
My daughter, , is 21 and lives in , Regional NSW. She is a fun, busy and social young woman with aspirations to expand a career in child care. She also has Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome, meaning she has a combination of intellectual and physical disabilities.
The NDIS has completely changed ’s life and I am very concerned about the proposed changes. Before the NDIS, lived a very lonely life, heavily reliant on myself for social interaction and community involvement. This social isolation left her depressed and angry, which impacted on everyone else in our household. We now use NDIS funding to ensure has a full and happy life. She lives at home with me, works in a voluntary capacity at two different child care centres three days a week and the Anglicare Op Shop one day a month. She is happier, healthier and more independent.
Section 34A - I am very concerned about the proposed 50% cut to social and community participation funding from October 2026. This seems a very blunt instrument with the objective of saving money, rather than achieving the NDIS’ goals. With reduced funding, would not be able to undertake her employment (because we use that funding at a 1:1 ratio); and would spend a lot of time alone, which would contribute to isolation and depression. Changes to people’s funding should be done by taking an individual’s needs into consideration, rather than applying a reckless, one-size-fits-all penalty to vulnerable people.
By radically reducing people’s social and community participation funding, we will end up with a rigid, assembly-line system and more day care centres for people with disability because that will be the only way to make people’s reduced funding last. The concept of choice and control will go out the window and we will completely reverse the hard-won progress of disability advocacy.
loves working with the children at the child care centres. It gives her purpose and builds confidence and skills. That wouldn’t happen without access to social and community participation funding at a level that allows us to ensure she can do the things she wants to do.
Section 33(2EA) - I am also very concerned about the Minister’s new power to cut funding without appeal, as well as automated decisions and algorithms with no opportunity for individual appeal. The NDIS is about people, doing their best, to live their best lives as all of us should have the opportunity to do. Taking people out of the decision-making process, relying on AI, and cutting funding without the opportunity of appeal is an administrative disaster waiting to happen that will leave the most vulnerable completely defenseless.
Please do not support any blanket changes, such as 50% cut to social and community participation; the Minister’s power to cut funding without appeal; and automated decisions and algorithms with no individual appeal.
Yours sincerely