National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 130
Submission to Senate Enquiry re:
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
We have a 29 year old daughter who lives with us at home and her disabilities include cerebral palsy, non-verbal, epilepsy, severe intellectual impairment, swallowing difficulties, chronic reflux and severe gastrointestinal issues related to her chromosomal deletion from birth. She is totally reliant on 1:1 support for feeding, toileting, showering, dressing, mobilising in her wheelchair and access to the community in her wheelchair modified van.
The NDIS has significantly transformed her life for the better and is allowing her to remain in the family home where her parents (63yo & 69yo) can continue contributing to her care. Her parents continuing involvement improves her life and well-being while saving the NDIS some funds at the same time.
We are very worried about the impact of some of the proposed changes. Particularly, the open- ended powers it gives for future governments to make arbitrary cuts, without apparent safeguards or limitations, specifically…
Schedule 1 Access and planning measures Part 4 Support determinations Proposed Section 34A
Under the current old framework planning, participants have been given plans that include reasonable & necessary funding.
When new framework planning eventuates, participants will undergo a Functional Capacity Assessment that will be combined with an algorithm or some similar process that predetermines the participants overall funding allocation.
To have either of these comprehensive funding processes further diluted by an arbitrary Ministerial Determination is both dangerous and high-risk. It opens the funding process to unjust outcomes that will predictably have unforeseen consequences on participants physical and mental health and even untimely deaths. It will also adversely impact the health and ability of the persons informal supports (aging parents in our case) to continue contributing to the care of their adult child.
This section would allow the Minister of the Day to make determinations that cut funding to any or all part of participant’s funding without any realistic limitations.
Recommendations:
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That the Ministers powers in this section should be limited to a maximum percentage of 15% per support category and the cumulative effect of any or all such Determinations in force at any time cannot exceed 10% of the total of a participant’s plan.
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That this section should have a Sunset Clause of 30th June 2030 to ensure a proper review into the effectiveness, responsible use and the ongoing need for such Determinations are properly scrutinised by Parliament. (Having a mandated review should assist in ensuring any Determinations are made in a responsible and less impulsive manner)
Thank you.