National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill
Submission: Submission_1601
Hello, as an elderly father caring for my adult child who has Down Syndrome along with other severe disabilities like moderate hearing loss or aphasia. My son requires constant supervision due to being unable to speak verbally nor perform daily tasks independently without assistance including toileting, dressing etc., since he takes multiple medications every day too.He’s been living at a group home supported financially through SIL funds alongside three others for over two decades now; having good relations both among residents & staff alike; loved dearly everywhere around him! Before this arrangement was made possible via our personal care efforts involving frequent meetings wth OTs/Speech Therapists/Physiotherapist plus managing all paperwork ourselves manually using emails/calls regularly. The government introduced NDIS scheme hastily without adequate controls/safeguards allowing entry of people not fit enough initially leading into its current chaotic state where participants suffer most directly under proposed changes aimed at rectifying these issues arising out numerous governmental oversights mentioned above.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1601
networks and interactions can lead to improved health and wellbeing, self-esteem, self-confidence, and levels of independence as well as protect individuals from experiencing poor mental health during times of life stress Berry & Welsh, Kawachi & Berkman(2001; Lakey & Orehek[2011]; Milner et al.[2016]; Olstad etal.(2001) I fail to see how cutting the budget for these activities in half can do anything but limit the achievement of the benefits described above – particularly for those suffering from Down Syndrome. This is further supported on pages **59-**of the Government’s own Impact Analysis Reportfrom May extbf{20}26 –see https://oia.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/posts/2026/05/Impact%20Analysis_0.pdf participants with a primary disability of visual impairment, down syndrome,and Intellectual Disabilit*y may be more affected by this change. For these cohorts, total committed supportsfor SCCP budgets are higher thanthe overall Scheme proportion. While understanding theneed forexternalbudgetary cuts,the initiative proposed will clearly bedetrimentaltounour son’swellbeing anda bilityto properly engagewiththecommunity.The effectswilleffectivelyresultinfurthermicro-institutionalisatonoffoursonwithinconfines do group home.Perhapsthisis government’s ultimate objective? Comment: Whya flat 50% oreachone?Why notor30 or80 Thereappears tobescience behind this.It istacking the “low-hanging” fruit and willeffectually affect certain groupsdisabled people such as ourson,morethan others.Maybe thistfigure shouldbedetermined atalater date based futher community consultation an detailed scenario analysis. The above report further states that: People on the autism spectrum and/or psychosocialdisability often experience disproportionate barriers to socialcommunity economic participation compared withpeople either physical disabiltyordisabledness. Comment: Whynothing been done about this I suggest it is probably too hard address but doesn’t meanitnot worth looking Otherwise participantsare hit With a double whammy i.e reduced financial ability participate in activities along continuing face societal barrierstheir participationsuch funding exists. Ministerial Powers Theproposed amendments provide federal Minister for Disability NDIS significant increase power discretion normally seen types legislation For example governments own explanatory summary material May extbf{2}6 –see https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/ndis-amendmentsecuring-the ndis-for-future-generations-bill—fact-sheet.pdf (under Schedule 3)states responsibility pricing decisions will be transferredtothe MinsterforDisabilitysandNDIS when currently managed through NDIA Thissignificant becausepricing directly determines real value participant supports. #
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1601
Another example (see Schedule 1) is a proposed power allowing the Minister (through legislative rules and plan variation mechanisms) to reduce funding in support categories, including potentially below what may previously have been considered “reasonable and necessary”.
Other areas of concern are in relation to scheme eligibility (based on functional capacity assessments – see Schedule 1) becoming dependent on ministerially approved assessment instruments outside of the statute, and the proposed new framework planning system (see Schedule 4) becoming rule-based giving the Minister indirect but extensive influence over matters such as how budgets are calculated and supports are classified.
An overall expansion of ministerial rule-making powers provides the Minister with almost dictatorial powers including the ability to make rules without the usual level of state/territory agreements.
Suggestion: Is it the objective of the proposed Act to transfer many important NDIS-related decisions either directly or indirectly to the Minister of the day? Does the NDIS Act then just become a shell enabling it to be manipulated and modified outside of its original intentions by the government of the day? How will this benefit participants? Moreover, where does the Minister have the time to undertake such activities?
Participant Communications Another of the proposed amendments concerns participants who cannot be contacted by the NDIA. The government’s own explanatory summary material from May 2026 (https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/ndis-amendment/securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026—fact-sheet.pdf) states:
Part 7 allows the NDIA to suspend an individual’s plan when reasonable attempts to contact them have been made and a response or adequate response has not been provided.
It also allows an individual’s status as a participant to be revoked if their plan has
been suspended for at least 90 days when the NDIA has not been able to contact
them.Whatdoes“reasonable attempts”or “adequate
sponse”mean?” Losing participant status would not merely be a pause in funding; it could mean removalfromthe scheme itself, potentially requiring reapplication ore reassessmentto regain access.Asan illustration oftheproblems raisedbysuch clauseswhenour son first enteredthescheme,a planner contacted my wife on thephone wantingtospeak tonon-verbalson. Regardlessof our insistence that he was no verbal,she insistedthat she speak tow him alone.Other friends o f ours with disabled children experienced these same insanity.Suggestion: Theseclauses will needtobe considerably softenedtopropertly consider`
the difficultiesexperienced by many participantsintheir communicationswith the
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1601
NDIA.
To leave as is could be viewed as unconscionable behaviour by the government in relation those who are its most vulnerable clients.
Thank you
redacted: s38 - Material obtained under secrecy provisions