National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1618
Submissions on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the
NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Richard Cordukes
I have used a wheelchair for 50 years. I’m now 74 and I’ve been extremely fit and active all my life. I’m a Paralympian and have travelled all over the world by myself. I’ve been independent all my life with no funding, nothing. That was until the NDIS, the NDIS was the greatest thing on the planet.
The easiest way to describe my concern is now I have severe mental illness, I’ve been diagnosed and part of that has been caused by the NDIS. I currently struggle to hold composure. My fear is that all the NDIS will do is block everyone from claiming anything so they utterly control our lives. For the last 4 or 5 years they have demonized me and others, huge numbers of us. All they talk about is fraud, they have an obsession with fraud. It is the NDIS interpretation of the law that is a concern.
I’ve been to tribunals over many many years with them lying cheating, with the tribunal member getting the shits with them.
The NDIS is lying. Reviews were a complete waste of time. In my experience the NDIS would refuse every single review, they were used simply for delay until I go away. I’m convinced there are people that have died while under the NDIS processes. They believe its only me that’s unreasonable, but almost every decision the tribunal comes up with is in my favour. Its so frustrating friends and family have to intervene with me at the tribunal. I try not to get angry.
My key concern is how the NDIA will manipulate this to simply comply with saving money. I worry they will manipulate this so that their performance will be the number one focus, I don’t mean their performance for the participants, but their performance towards their interpretation of the law. They won’t care about anything else. They don’t care about the clients at all. It is shallow garbage. It is insincere lies. They believe that when I call them a liar that’s offensive, I can prove they are lying. They hide behind processes that’s why I have genuine fear about what is next.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1618
We had the greatest scheme in the world and they are going to say we can’t afford it, it’s as simple as that. It’s the attitude of the NDIA that is unreasonable. They don’t have to be an attack scheme; they just need to listen. There is no discretion other than some patronizing garbage.
I had an experience where the NDIA required that 7 separate OTs came to my house to assess an accessible door. It’s unnecessary. The NDIS said they’re complying with the law. So I have to pay for it. It’s rubbish. No one acknowledges any of our thoughts at all. They have broken me. When was the last time anyone had 7 Ots to come look at where a door should go. It’s ridiculous. Imagine what they do when it’s more than just a door. They did this purely to slow the process down, nothing else. It’s hard to appreciate them anymore.
I’m highly regarded in Paralympic groups, member of so many groups yet the NDIA say we can’t take you out on social and community access anymore. Going to see sick family and to funerals is not a holiday and the NDIA treat it like I’m just trying to get a holiday.
The NDIA need to change their disgusting attitude towards people with disabilities. I went to a protest in 1981 and it was called “Nothing for us without us”. They’ve taken choice and control from us; there is none anymore. They use the guise of saving money and its absolute lies. I believe they will make no money from this and they will just take more cuts. They’ve set themselves up as victims, they are not. You can only be a victim once.