National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1316
Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs Parliament House, Canberra
RE: Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track) Bill
Dear Senators,
I am writing to formally express my deep concerns regarding the proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
I am a member of a family directly impacted by the NDIS. Specifically, I see the daily realities of my sister-in-law, who is 51 years old and lives on her own with an intellectual disability. Her daily challenges are profound, and navigating life with limited support is incredibly difficult.
’s parents looked after her for 49 years until they both passed away within 3 months of each other. Their sole wish was that that can enjoy a normal quality of life—the kind of standard health, safety, and community participation that those of us without a disability often take for granted.
The NDIS is a vital lifeline for our family. It provides the essential support structures that allow to live her own life as best she can. Based on my firsthand observations, I am deeply concerned by the following aspects of the proposed legislation: Unilateral Ministerial Powers: Giving the Minister the power to overrule the NDIA and cut participants’ plans arbitrarily undermines trust and strips stability away from vulnerable families. Shifting the Burden of Care: The proposed 30% cuts to social and community supports will inevitably shift the unpaid care burden back onto families—disproportionately impacting women who are already stretched to breaking point. Threat to Local Service Provider Viability: Reducing community participation budgets will cause essential, specialized local providers—such as Fit N Able—to lose clientele, threatening their financial viability and reducing choice for participants.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1316
Social Isolation: These cuts will reduce participants’ worlds, making their lives smaller and more isolated. Eliminating community access cuts out the very activities that foster joy, friendships, and independence. This would be the most devastating thing for . Lack of Meaningful Consultation: This framework is being advanced without genuine co-design or thorough consultation with the very participants, carers, and frontline service providers who will bear the consequences. Undermining Early Intervention: Reducing early intervention supports is a short-sighted approach that will drastically increase long-term costs. Unmet needs do not disappear; they simply manifest later as crises in health, mental health, emergency departments, and the justice system. Furthermore, state governments have explicitly indicated they cannot replicate individualised NDIS services. Automated and AI Decision-Making: The implementation of automated algorithms to assess and monitor plans is highly alarming. Human functional needs cannot be calculated by a computer program. We saw the devastating psychological and systemic harm caused by Robodebt when automated government systems lack human empathy and oversight. Shift Towards a Welfare Model: These changes signal a regressive shift in how the government views the NDIS— treating it like a capped income-support or welfare scheme rather than an entitlement-based support system designed to foster community inclusion and independent living.
The NDIS was designed to ensure equity and dignity for Australians with a disability. I urge the Committee to reject changes that compromise these fundamental values and place undue hardship on participants and their families.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours faithfully,