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

Submission 1935

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing as the parent of a child with disability to express my deep concern regarding the proposed NDIS reforms contained within the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. My concerns relate specifically to the proposed reductions to social and community participation supports, cuts to capacity building supports, restrictions on reassessment and review, expanded ministerial powers, increasing use of automation and algorithmic decision-making, and reforms that may reduce access to the Scheme for people with complex or lifelong disabilities. These changes feel like gatekeeping for people living with disabilities. They do not reflect inclusion. They risk creating further segregation within our communities by making it harder for people with disabilities to participate in everyday life. as parents of children with disabilities we already advocate every single day We advocate at school swimming lessons dance classes supermarket Community spaces nearly every social interaction our Children experience There is constant need explain behaviours differences support needs why Our children respond differently situations Living state fight flight ensure your Child accepted safe included exhausting Now families being told also need Fight funding allows Children Participate first place Some argue Participation Parent responsibility Course Responsibility Support Children However teenager With disability wants attend extracurricular activities go cinema spend time friends while Parents stand beside them supervising moment Inclusion means allowing young People Disabilities same dignity independence Social opportunities peers wherever possible I parent daughter Down syndrome incredibly grateful therapies support provided Those Supports helped bridge gap between her Peers many meaningful ways But there always be a Gap My Daughter will require supervision Her Disability affects ability Recognise danger assess Risk This includes everyday situations such as crossing road using hot water safely understanding someone May have good

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

Submission 1935

intentions toward her. This is not parenting failure, this reality of her disability. The proposed changes risk excluding vulnerable from communities designed help them access inclusion cannot exist if participation becomes inaccessible. I am also deeply concerned about increasing use automation algorithms standardised assessment digital compliance systems within NDIs Professional judgement matters Occupational therapists allied health professionals understand how impacts real life functioning ways tick-box or scoring tool Good require context clinical observation lived experience understanding person individual The appears increase reliance on systems frameworks processes in making alarming Recent experiences aged care demonstrate risks over-standardised capture complexity people’s actual support needs must not repeat these mistakes Many families frightened because approach resembles dangerous Robodebt used automated data matching accuse vulnerable Australians debts they did owe Human removed People forced prove innocence against computer-generated decisions consequences catastrophic tragically died Now many disabled fear watching foundations similar system being rebuilt disability supports Through expanded digital powers and mechanisms government creating increasingly allow: - Automated decision-making, algorithmic assessments electronic payment tracking aggressive debt recovery investigations broad ministerial powers alter funding rules with limited scrutiny.

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

Submission 1935 Support is increasingly being treated as though it is a suspicious financial transaction rather than an essential human need. Families are deeply concerned about a future where algorithms can flag spending as “suspicious,” restrict supports, trigger investigations, or suspend funding while vulnerable people are left trying to prove themselves innocent after the fact. Fraud enforcement once targeted organised criminal behaviour. Now disabled people requiring wheelchairs, autism therapies, support workers, or assistance getting out of bed are being subjected to increasing levels of financial monitoring and compliance scrutiny. It is also important to put the discussion around “NDIS fraud” into perspective. Fraud exists in every large government system and every sector where significant public money is involved. This is not unique to the NDIS. The Australian Taxation Office estimates the tax gap —the difference between tax owedand tax actually collected—is worth billions of dollars each year due to tax avoidance, derreporting,pheonix activity,and fraud.Wage theft anda unpaid superannuationalso costAustralianworkersbillions annually.Centrelinkfrauditcomplianceissueshaveexistedfordecades,yetgovernments havenotrespondedbyplacingthentirewelfarepopulationunderleveloffinancial surveillanceandautomatedcompliancesystemsnowbeingproposedwithindisabilitysupport.MostAustralians understand that genuineorganisedfraudshouldabsolutelybe investigatedandrepressed.However,t hereissignificantdifferencebetween targetingorganisecriminalactivityandbuildingsystemsthattreateverydisabled personasa potential suspect.TheoverwhelmingmajorityofN DISparticipantsarenotinfruststers.Theyarepeoplewith disabilitiesafamiliestryingtoaccesstherapies,supportworkers,mobility equipmenttransportsocialparticipation,an dbasicsupportsthatallowthemtolives afelyand participateincommunity.Yetpublicdiscussionhasincreasinglyfocusedonororts“rortsandisolatextreme exampleswhilefarlessattentionisasgivenetoverydayrealitiesof disability and caringresponsibilities.Thedangeristhatarepeatedmessagingabout fraudcreatesimpressiontha ndabledpeoplet hemselves arethe problem.I am also concerned about the Bill’s expansion of ministerial powers to reduceorlimit categoriesofs upportacrossScheme. Supportsshould bebasedonindividualneedandclinically informedassessment,n ot

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

Submission 1935

broad system-level reductions or political decisions made behind closed doors.

The proposed restrictions on reassessment and review are also deeply concerning. Disability and support needs can change rapidly. Families need practical pathways to request reassessment when circumstances change. Limiting reassessment to “exceptional circumstances” risks creating unsafe situations and delays in essential supports. I am particularly concerned about the risk of narrowing access to the Scheme for children, people with psychosocial disability, people with fluctuating conditions, degenerative conditions, or complex support needs that may not be easily captured by standardised assessments. Early intervention and ongoing support matter. Removing or reducing supports before alternative systems are fully established risks causing enormous harm to vulnerable people and families. Capacity building and community participation supports are not luxuries.Theyareessentialforindependence,socialconnection,skilldevelopment,mentalwellbeing,and inclusion.Reducingthesesupportswillnotcreate independence—itwill create isolation,carerburnoutandreducedcommunityparticipation.Isupportthe recommendations being put forward by Occupational Therapy Australia including:

• ensuring functional capacity assessments are conducted by appropriately qualified allied health professionals;
• prohibitingfullyautomatedeligibilityandfundingdecisions; maintaininghumanoversightandprofessionaljudgement;protectingpathwaysforevaluationandreview; -reversingproposedcutstocapacitybuildingandparticipationsupports; limitingbroadministerialpowers -andensuringNDIS reformsdonot narrowaccessforeachwithcomplex,f luctuatingorlifelongdisabilities. I also support efforts toreassurepricingandi ntegrity reformsmaintainasustainable allie dhealthworkforceincludingoccupationalther apistswhose workis essentialto participant safety,independenc e ,andalong-term outcomes.DisabledAustraliansdeserveinclu sion,dignit y, safety,a utonomyandan abilitytopartici patefull in society—notafuturebuiltonsuspic ion,surveillanceandr estricted access tosuppor t. I urge Parliamenttoreconsiderthesereforms andensurethatanychanges ton the NDIS protect therights, dignity,and humanityofthepeoplethesthe Scheme was created to

Submission 1935

support.

Sincerely,