National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission

Submission: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee - Bill 1873 National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) I am a participant who has physical disabilities or close relatives/friends with similar conditions. The submission reflects personal views on making NDIs sustainable long-term but opposes current bill due potential exclusions from essential supports; includes specific concerns about Minister’s powers over plans and caps; social/community participation funds are crucial daily activities like medical visits & groceries, current media misrepresents these funds.

Submission 1873

Amend s34A and s33(2EA) to require mandatory co-design with the Independent Advisory Council (IAC) before any reductions. If this section cannot be amended, the NDIS Support list must include delivery fees for groceries and medications to be an allowable claim. The new functional capacity test Section 9B will require all current participants to be reassessed from January 1 2028. Current participants have already proven substantially reduced functional capacity. This was a requirement for access. Participants have also been required to produce evidence of this reduced capacity at every plan reassessment prior to funding allocation. Adult NDIS participants do not lose their disability or impairments over time. I can’t even begin to explain the stress and anxiety the prospect of going through this process again is having on myself and my family members. Current participants should not have to endure the indignity and stress of reproving what the agency has already accepted. One of the core principles of the NDIS is Certainty of Care: Participants and their families are provided the certainty that they will receive lifelong care and support as their needs evolve. Section 9B contradicts this guiding principle. Exempt current participants from the S9B functional capacity tests and reassessment if this section remains unaltered Delay the start of s9B until Foundation supports have been fully implemented and tested Section ‘appropriate treatment’ S24(5) for determining permanence. I have great fear that this section will have severe consequences for those who acquire their impairments due to medical conditions rather than at birth Degenerative medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis Motor Neuron Disease etc require many years trialing changing medications limit disease progress My own experience months achieve safe effective mix medicines improve only slow progression That’s awfully long without appropriate support Although Bill addresses issue there be some

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1873

mechanism to list these conditions, so there can be no need for interpretation or at least to allow access for early intervention. The Bill does not address how new treatment options will be addressed if these become available.The NDIA northe Minister shouldbe ableto director override medical professional interventiornorfors participants toc change their medication regimesorthave plans suspended while doingso? I don’t knowth eanswerbut thinkthissectionhas potentialtobeadangerous.

S25A requires all appropriate treatments tobe tried regardless offinancialorgeographical situation.Seriously? It is astounding that thistwecconsidered let alone put in writing.This wil disproportionalyimpact thoseon low incomesFirst Nations people remote and regional residentsand any numberofaccess barriers related tot disability This wll favorthewealthy.Definitionsin linewith thencurrent Social Security Guide couldb used“trementthatisavailableat a location reasonably accessible toperson ata reasonable cost Explanation:It wouldnot bereasonable expectapertson tu undergo prohibitively expensive trentmentortravel long distances seek treatmen inorder satisfy the qualification criteria.”Remove s25 A. .S 25B blocks accesifthere isa compensation scheme involved.Compensation schemes do ncoverall support needs.I believe CTP insurance Workcove only cover income supt,medical expensesandrehabilitation The NDIS has never coveredthes supports.CPT orWorkcoverdont cover alldisability supporneeds so where will thesesupports come from if nottheNDIS Iwould also hate to thinkVeterans may alsocaptured by this section.Amend s25 Bto excluded duplicatedsupporthonly rather than access.S(2) Changesacces decisionsfrom daysThe agencyhas managed withthel day timeframe tdateI failtoseethe purpose of increasingthisThiswill have no impact on sustainability.

Retain th currentday time frame for acce decisio