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

Submission 185 Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Submission for Inquiry into NDIS Bill

Please note that I am totally unable to understand the Act at all due to the legal aspects involved. This submission is based on what I have understood about the changes and the explanatory Memorandum. I also believe that for the Labor Government to rush through this Bill is absolutely totally unfair.They MUST supply much more detail instead of making open ended statements without explanation or assessing the actual impact on participants.I’m sure the time allocated to the Inquiry does not allow for the volume of submissions.

Background

• Background:
  • The carer supports a person who has had brain injury since January, which took over four years from NSW compensation but did NOT cover post-DSP support needs as DSP alone cannot provide adequate care;
  • Received NDIS in ’17; aged significantly both with her condition worsening and herself aging;
  • MRI results show no improvement despite multiple attempts by NDIA;
  • No medical treatment can improve their brain injury. A specialist neurologist confirms headaches are related directly (NDIS lacks communication leading to excessive state resources use).

Submission 185

Systemic Failures with the NDIA

This Bill completely fails to address the failures within the NDIA systems, failing to advise where any review actually been taken up inside these systems.

• Example: A plan issued on January 30th but available online from May 26th despite complaints; no follow-up action found out why it wasn’t immediately accessible; total failure of follow-up actions leading poor performance resulting stress participants increased workload staff. Another example alone is $60 million spent last year legal representation ART. Where does this bill mention what steps are being taken reduce number cases ART reducing costs such cases directly related failed decisions concerning reductions plans refusals allow equipment etc., cases used change policies procedures? one also questions need extensive reports assessments Occupational Therapists Home Modifications Items covered Warranty Insurance as well, necessity OT reports assessed by NDIA total cost per year assessment reassessment needs OT reports reduction would be huge saving expenditure in NDIS won’t fund her supports fully informed exactly how affected compensation which was too little and late.

Schedule ONE

Changes and Reassessments

• Line Item: The proposed Bill states that changes won’t happen until October 2026 yet our NDIS plan was seriously changed in January 2026 without any prior advice to us. We are still suffering badly as a result of the reduction in support. Communication concerning these changes is atrocious at best; stating we should seek help during crisis times through Lifeline or Beyond Blue seems like a joke because they cannot do anything helpful due to their lackadaisical approach towards assisting participants with reduced supports which have severely affected both carers’ mental health leading them into thoughts about suicide after experiencing significant falls from concentration issues caused directly related back to reassessment processes impacting negatively upon individuals involved within such circumstances;
• *Line Item: What I don’t understand here regarding someone who received an NDIS allocation since being diagnosed brain injury condition will never improve nor worsen but has seen alterations made against her initial evaluation criteria despite having been assessed requiring four hours per day previously, thus rendering those modifications unjustified based on value for money principle when originally deemed necessary given said individual’s needs were not altered whatsoever throughout this period?
• **Line Item: **To reduce weekends & public holidays down one hour daily constitutes complete farce considering same level care required regardless whether weekend days or regular working periods? Reviewing officer even stated that participant’s plan remained unchanged altogether thereby implying no actual change occurred post-reassessment process conducted by relevant authorities responsible for overseeing implementation thereof
• Line Item: The precise rationale behind reducing the amount of support provided (from 4 hrs/day) to just three hours/day remains unexplained and fails entirely address concerns surrounding responsibility taking over additional time slots allocated initially yet still unpaid via NDIS funding mechanism. As informal caregiver already stretched beyond limits achievable under current capacity constraints does it mean both parties now experience diminished quality-of-life standards compared with previous assessments carried out through NDIS system itself which indeed results in missed meals due exhaustion at end each day leading directly back into further deterioration health conditions experienced within context described herein;
• *Line Item: The other reason cited regarding reduction being ineffective/beneficial was simply laughable! Provided thirty-page report from occupational therapist costing $3000 clearly insufficient justification towards proving efficacy/efficacy claims made without referencing more recent evaluation data submitted during January assessment window instead opting older OT reports dated well past twelve months ago used as basis rather than newer findings presented earlier. How could this happen? Review did not comment on functional evaluations performed by said professional, so what exactly value received paying thousands dollars toward such service? Is this truly worth money spent?

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

Submission 185

Contact with Participants

• The review states: “A significant number of resources are available through Carer’s Gateway.” This was wasted time because I’ve used it since January 2026, but there were very limited actual resources; they supply support mainly during emergencies at most up to six hours. Counselling won’t mitigate reduced support affecting me significantly or my mental health problems resulting after reductions on plans starting Jan ‘26 which will not disappear soon due to these cuts being made without adequate consideration given towards carers’ needs as evidenced via impact statement & doctor’s letter ignored completely by NDIA leading us both into burnout state where we need supports urgently,
• Any necessary assistance is needed so that [redacted] has an appropriate standard life quality avoiding further stress from caring responsibilities; currently drastic changes have severely impacted our lives negatively while NDIA shows no concern whatsoever regarding how this affects us directly despite supplying a Carers Impact Statement and Doctor’s Letter detailing concerns raised which were entirely disregarded by them indicating complete disregard for elderly caregivers like myself who must manage brain injury patients alone under one hour break per weekend. Committee please explain how can I cope fully within such constraints?

Definition of Permanence:

Clarify the definition of permanence introducing concept ‘all-appropriate treatment’ as evident in case when NDIA ignores evidence provided through Westmead Hospital MRI reports over years showing lack progress with treatments exhausted yet still reducing plan based solely upon OT report.

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

Submission 185

Other Service Systems

• Require that a participant’s eligibility for certain other service systems must be taken into account when making decisions about access to the NDIS.

The other service systems have NOT even been defined for me to comment but in reality other service systems do not apply because needs in home supports and I do NOT know of any other systems that supply in-home services. The Bill MUST fully identify these so-called ‘other service areas’ and ensure suitable funding arrangements are made before this bill passes In many regional towns such as [redacted] , there ARE no other services available . All i know it’s that as her informal Carer can longer support for amount time required due lack energy ability to support [redacted] almost hours without at least break every four or five hour .

Schedule Two - Fraud Etc

-In my opinion majority providers decent trustworthy Whilst number guilty fraud believe NDIA review system on provider has failed protect participants from fraud.

must also complete review ndia inspection systems ascertain their effectiveness value money rating system provide clear. There must detailed investigation pricing associated with services equipment supplied various vendors Some vendor immediately raise price mention NDIS example quote registered contractor install one rail was $200 us paying yet through ndis cost two rails was 1,000 dollars. Ban providers plan management supports providing any other supports under the NDIS -Exactly how is going work fact stop happening? Previous inspections by NDIA inspectors have failed identified this issue.

Schedule Three

-Automated Decision Making totally failed Robodebt recent Aged Care Assessments case currently investigated Ombudsman. Any decision here delayed until ombudsman report How would automated decision making in NDIS different? Many plans already used Automated Decision Making? Any automated decision-making MUST be advised participant full list documents assessment In our case were not informed whether use of automatic decisions made Participant MUSt given choice refuse such automation. Recommendation 17:1 Royal Commission explicitly stated: Where implemented there should a clear path for those affected seek review So where avenue for reviewing these types [redacted]?

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

Submission 185

Summary

• This Bill has clearly been rushed through just like the Bills after the incident at Bondi, and there hasn’t been enough consultation or evaluation within the NDIA.
• There needs to be full review of operations and reduction of excessive expenditure such as $60 million spent on legal expenses in tribunals.
• Automation usage requires clear identification; otherwise it’s unacceptable without detailed documentation addressing what isn’t best value due to potential over-spending ($60M).
• Communication systems need thorough reviews because receiving emails advising cases are closed but lacking participant communication details is totally unacceptable; similarly signing off email notifications must include names involved, as seen when plans were available online almost five months later despite being still pending action.
• Clear pre-review communications should precede all phone calls where text messages advise private number contactings reduce staff needed & tribunal case numbers with better communication.
• A comprehensive inspection system audit ensures fraud detection effectiveness which includes timeframes identified per Act providers rating system used.
• Service systems require complete funding confirmation before passing legislation. The Carers Gateway’s limited use was highlighted: only six hours support given post-fall not weekend availability.
• The bill must specify who pays for treatments ensuring disability permanence once applicants comply with requests from NDISA no further requests made since unlimited funds aren’t provided for medical reports associated disabilities people have told me that continual report requests by NDISa attempt make them go away.

Submission 185

• To say that if we are in Crisis, contacting Lifeline or Beyond Blue is a legal requirement but one needs exactly how they can help when problems related to reduced NDIA funding & lack thereof communication affects us. The problem stems from total incorrect clear communciation by ndia; decisions made have no exact details given; NDIA must NOT send emails on Saturday mornings or very late Friday afternoons.

Compensation Schemes need overhauling as saying anyone receiving compensation won’t be eligible under ndis is wrong. State Gov schemes fail Full Life Support due legislation failure. Waiting almost years for compenstion is joke and nids cannot exclude people who receive it unless there’s full life support provided within compensation scheme.

The need of various reports Allied Health professionals provide should also fully reviewed linked permanency disability type reported identified ALL plans time allocated these reports capacity substantial reduction expenditure not even addressed yet.

This Bill shouldn’t approved until all other supports/services funded disabled person without needed supports anytime regional areas no others available.

Bill totally fails address impact reductions NDIS funding will affect many Small Businesses supplying support participants often local workers Regional Towns where else get support small town?