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

Submission 1792

Senate Submission to the review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Bill.

As an Australian I was extremely proud of the establishment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). As the mother of a 36 year old man with an intellectual disability, the NDIS gave me hope that my son could have a life of meaning and purpose.

The recent announcements, which appear to have been developed without extensive community consultation, have caused me, and the rest of the disability community, an enormous stress and anxiety.

I am particularly concerned with the proposed unilateral cuts to participants’ social and community participation budgets. It is already difficult to find and secure opportunities for community participation, including volunteering, and unfortunately many of these activities rely on the participant being supported by paid support. This need for paid support extends to attendance at the local gym, and the ability to travel on public transport or in private car to activities etc.

Please do not pass a bill that enables support plans to be changed without participant consultation. Reducing social and community participation budgets will leave people with a disability isolated and vulnerable or forced into congregated, segregated settings.

The cost of the NDIS must be managed but must not put at risk the people the scheme has been established to support.