National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1720

Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

RE: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 I request this submission be published with my Name Withheld as it contains sensitive personal details regarding my disability. Dear Chair and Committee Members, Before I address the specifics of my argument, I want you to know a little about me and my life. I am 36 years old. I live alone. I do not have any friends or family to support me. I have two degrees.Iamnotemployedduetomydisability.IdereceivetheDisabilitySupportPension.ImyanNDISparticipant.InthefiveyearsIhavebeenreceivingNDS fundedsupport,I havemovedoutofthefamilyhomeandintothemodestone-bedroomunitwherelnowlive.Ihavjoineagym.Ihavenotakenup fishing.And Ihave mostrecentlybegunbuildingabusinesssoicanengageinsomemeaningful workfrom home.Onedayifmybusinessissuccessfulihope tobless reliantonthen pension.But Inwouldnothaveachievedthesegoals ifitwere noforyesupportI haverceived.Mysupporth team would sayitisallmebutstillfeeliowe themadebtgratitudefortheirhelp.Theyare theyonlysupporthave.The NDIS hasliterallybeenlife-changingforme.Iwashopedaboutthefuture.Andthat iswhatIdo notbelieve therehas been enough in community: benefits ndis people like me broadercommunity.Thereinsteadaslewarticlesinthemainstreammedia by so-called commentators critical of the NDIsuse deceptive attention-grabbing headlines implying participants misuse their funds for example go walk see movieor get haircut1 Thegeneralpublicappears toknowlittle about what life disability when reading such a headline,they naturally will believe something wrong that itnot fit purpose; that it lost its social licence. Butthereisonthingwrong Iused myNDIS funding togetahaircut and IdoitagainneededtoBut isthe nuanceinadmissionpeople do seem understand.

[1]NDS spends $2b on support walks movies haircuts: hhttps://www.afr.com/policy/economy/nds-spends-12bon-support-for-walks-movies-haircuts-0302-p56ls

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1720

This is what actually occurred. Having conversations with people can be tricky for me. Sometimes I do not know what I have to say in order to get what I need. So I used my NDIS funds to seek help from my speech pathologist. She and I discussed what I needed to say, and we made a phone call to book an appointment so that could go out. Some participants might use their NDIS funding differently than others; some may require assistance booking haircuts or finding suitable businesses which accommodate them better due sensory overload issues such as dimming lights at salons. The constant bashing of this scheme without any context has led many taxpayers resenting its existence despite being unaware about how it works properly; on social media there are unfounded allegations against both providers and recipients alike who are often labelled burdens/fakers/grifters/retards etc., especially those non-white individuals living within Western Sydney area or immigrants generally seen as scammers & fraudsters. These false accusations seem to spread throughout broader Australian community causing even more negative perception towards NDIS program itself, it appears government took advantage these sentiments by framing them into notion ‘social licence’ thereby justifying broad cuts on budget allocation but research conducted by Talbot Mills shows contrary view: While 70% Australians still agree the role played by NDIS is vital however same percentage also believe system too large struggling with dodgy service provider quality Worse yet over half respondents think actual state broken rather than merely inefficiently managed.

NDIS experience

Which best describes your experience with t he National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? (%)

Impact

I also want to give some first-hand evidence of the impact the proposed changes have had on me. Even without the changes being implemented, their proposal has caused me significant distress. In the days leading up to Mark Butler’s appearance at the National Press Club⁷, I,
and i believe a
large number of others,
were under the impression that Mr.
Butler would announce were
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Federal Budget

The Australian Government has announced reforms in this year’s Federal Budget. The government will deliver this plan by: • fighting fraud and stopping rorts • slowing rapid cost increases • clearer eligibility requirements • delivering quality services and support to participants. To do this, the government will introduce a bill to Parliament soon. Nothing will change until this law passes. Current NDIS rules and planning stay the same until then. Participants don’t need to do anything. You should keep using your current plan. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will share more information about what this means for NDIS participants on their website. We’ll also continue sharing information about changes to the NDIS on our websiteand in this newsletter. Changes to the NDIS Figure 2: section of email from NDIAWhen I attempted to discover specifically what the reforms were, I was met with a page stating,`

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission: NDIS Amendement Bill 2026 Submission 1720

Screenshot Description:

Figure 3: screenshot of web page supposed to describe changes to NDIS legislation

The lack of official communication regarding these reforms has been so absolute that I resorted to plugging details of my circumstances into Google’s AI chatbot just to try to make sense of my future. When an NDIS participant has to rely on AI –and a third party one at that–to guess whether they will be cut from the scheme because the government has left them in the dark, the system is fundamentally failing its duty of care.redacted And for record based on my lack informal supports (i.e., family or friends),AI determined am likely viewed as high risk liability that governemnt too afraid abandon how wonderful fact am left relying ai chatbots speculation determine my future appalling But even if fortunate enough escape ejectionfromscheme what about reductions plans From read goverment seeking social civic and community participation funding50% capacity building daily activities funding by 10%.But do not know translates respectively my funding being cut nor know practically affect goals currentlyfuture such ability run business Supposedly cuts occurring little over four months time October Again none this communicated directly me gouvernement had go looking it This hyperbole either Currently have someone support team visit otherwise contact few daysso part ndis funded supports If worst were happen 9 Occupational Therapy Australia - Policy Advocacy Update May https://otaus.com.au/news/policy-and-advocacy-update-may

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1720

and if I were to fall and hit my head someone would hopefully find me or at least raise an alarm within those first couple weeks But as funding cuts increase it takes longer before help arrives And should I be ejected from NDIS nobody will look after me I don’t even have a clue what might happen next While physically healthy others aren’t The fact they’re scared isn’t surprising This reality hits people with disabilities hard In any case three days following Butler’s announcements was tough I couldn’t sleep properly My heart rate increased significantly I felt overheated ordered pizzas ate them all on Anzac Day needed groceries shopping but wasn’t feeling well Describe how this affected me:

I drove local Aldi one place can get alone But turning into car park noticed how full Saturday Avoids Wednesday Saturdays Special Buys so busier than usual Parked figured just tough it out quickly Had benzodiazepine prescribed GP psychiatrists carried mind didn’t cross take Should Have.

Grabbed trolley went inside saw busy thought Oh no Started getting angry intolerant everything everyone around People everywhere Kids screaming kids restocking crates blocking aisles Standing chatting each other Blocking aisles Gestured people away Very unlike Me Overheating sweating Gatorade bought.

Went through self-checkout could take time Always feel glared comments why going slow Line up because of the crowd Got to open terminal previous customer left basket there Every Little Thing Put in its proper place Scanning items one at once began strange Could see sweat falling sunglasses bright environments little more tolerable Seeing anxious snowball effect making even worse Deeply angry zoning autopilot Aware background noise talking beeping machines Anyone came during meltdown verbally abusing person So scared anger desperation built over few days erupt.

Fortunately managed pay got home drank entire bottle Gatorade go Just wanted back unpacking trolley home unpacked car sat down nearly broke tears. I know not only distressed others terrified system supposed protect us now abandoning disability rights advocate Sam Connor recently pointed this two posts want highlight below.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1720

X posts related to NDIS cuts:

Post #1 on May 24th at 2:23 AM

Sam Connor (@criprights) Fun fact: The 5% cuts in social and community participation means those who need support will lose jobs. Briana Mills LMF… @theBrianamills Say it with me:Disabled people deserve to live even if they can't work. Figure 4: X post from Sam Connor¹⁰

Post #2 on May 20th at 7:15 PM

Sam Connor (@criprigbts) I just went into one of larger disability groups that I administer, where serious discussions are happening about accessing Voluntary Assisted Dying due to losing their supports under this scheme. Time to get offline again, Goodnight. Figure 5: X post from Sam Connor¹¹

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1720

I am particularly displeased with how the government has handled this. There has been little information and little time for me to properly present my view about its disastrous proposals. The government has not requested my feedback nor did it make known there was a Senate Committee where one could submit comments; hence no opportunity existed fully review bill’s content before submission deadline passed without sufficient preparation or knowledge regarding changes affecting many NDIS participants who now lack their voices being heard in decision-making process which fundamentally impacts them—this is wrong! However, while disagreeing entirely with all proposed measures as understood, after careful consideration:

• Functional capacity assessments are great idea because they target participant needs rather than unfounded assumptions based solely upon diagnoses but I doubt such assessment can accurately capture overall functional capacities due various factors influencing individual capabilities e.g., heat intolerance during summer may diminish functionality whereas cold weather might enhance apparent abilities;

supports accountability & anti-fraud mechanisms ensuring funds go directly towards those providing support including requiring invoices accompanying claims unless compelling reasons exist otherwise Commonwealth Statutory Declaration issued via MyGov should be required by law if invoice cannot accompany claim;

cuts to funding unacceptable especially considering plans cut social/civic/community participation & daily activities from October onwards thus necessitating total budget flexibility allowing pooling remaining resources prioritizing immediate survival according need best determined individually by participants themselves instead of Canberra bureaucrats Irony lies these reforms threaten exact outcomes claimed. With current supports actively building business reducing reliance on Disability Support Pension hard work achieved at risk collapse progress permanently dependent pension system rest life urging committee consider cutting vital supports setting us up lifelong dependency welfare. Yours sincerely,