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

Submission 1970 Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Senate Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS)

for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Senators I make this submission on behalf of my 29-year-old daughter. My daughter has Down syndrome with consequent intellectual disability and other impacts to health and wellbeing.We liveintheNorthern Territory(NT)a ndshehasbeenaparticipantonthenNDISsinceNovember2019.Herdisabilityispermanent;thereisnocurenorany treatmentthatcanalleviate Downsyndrome.Priortothe implementationoftheadvisorycommittee,asa schoolleaverandyoungadult,m Yadviceandsupport.DespiteachievingaCertificateIII Retailshewasanabletonothingmeaningful,paid workoutsideofthelocalADE – anda wageoflessthan$3perhour.The NDISHASprovided themeanbywhichsherabecomeabledtoprovideandsupportworkpart-time(9 hours perweekpaidatawardrates)asadAlliedHealthTherapyAssistantforthelastsixyears,bethealth Ambassador(HA)forsyndromearoundthesameperiod.Shepresentedto hundreds oftudentdoctorsandtherapistsonimportanceinclusiverespectfull communication inhealthplanningandrehabilitation.Shehassubmittedinternationallyandon achievinghealthequityforpeoplewit hintellectualdisabilitypayemployment.As a Therapy Assistant part of team at her workplace sheinductsnew staff with focus on effective respectful inclusivecommunication. She is also partteam that has spoken to employers impact open and inclusive employment NT Major Events importance value accessible major sporting community events.

The proposed Bill its current form will significantly reduce the supports my daughter requires continue these achievements be productive memberNT Australian society, TheBillasproposedwillgeministerpower50%cuttosocialcommunity participation funding from 1 October26 which hehasalreadyannouncedany other future such cuts may determined unilateral hidden process Determinations under power cannot appealed nor subject Parliamentary Oversight. Currentlymydaughterunder social and community participa tionis providedsupportsinher employmentsupporstosaccessgroup activities fitness recreational skill development programs alignedwith Plan goalsintended further develop capacity forfuture employment as well provide reasonablesocial access For this translates one evening week where can engage dinner friendsactivities movie ten pin bowling karaoke mini golf dancing cost actual activitydinner owncostmoney earned through employment. For my daughterimpactofthe proposed cut immediate renewsaatOctoberand result having choose between continued support in employment or continued suppo ttoengagehersocialcommunit yaccessevents Does workproductiveAustralian citizen does rely Disability Support Pension

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

Submission 1970

and only engage in social activities at a reduced level, the proposed cut to her support funding will not allow both.

If she elects for the former then while she will retain this discretional income, she will be reliant on us, hers parents, and other limited family support to engage in any level of social and community access. as ageing seniors and pensioners our capacity to provide such support is limited.It would also likely have a significant impact on her continuing contact with friends manyof whomwill face similar cutsinsupport.

ifsheelectsforthelatter whatwillshe doforthe three mornings per weekthatshis currently employed? Withtheconsequent reductioninhediscretionalincome my daughterwilbe less ableto affordtongooseocialcommunityactivities evenwithongoingsupport provided . Theimpact morebroadlywouldbethather employer wilneed toreview howthey wille meettheneed current metbymydaughter , will they redeployorterminatethestaff thatcurrentlyprovidesthesupports inher employment. Thereisa further economicimpact asour daughtera ndh erfriendsarelessabletopayforsocialactivitie s; lesseats purchasedlesstattendeesatheatre sbowling golf club etc Theproposed Bill willfundamentally change th eNDIS it will no longer bethescheme thatwas created wit enormouss communitysupp ortand fail tmeet theoriginal intent.The ‘savings’tha tt he Treasurymodelling suggestswill beachieved arealso illusory there will simply bes a cost shift toother Government programs andbroader communitycoupledwi thasignificant erosion oftrust ingovernment toprotectits citizens I urge you recommend thisBill not proceed in itscurrent form whilethere ar enumberof concerns, then proposed powersprovided tot hMinister under S34(A)aresig nific ant concern andre quiresubstantial review Thisreview must include people withdisabilityin broad consultationandspecific co designo fthedetailto ensure equitya ndfairness tonoth atwillimpact Primarylegislation suchasthis should provideashield against anunknown future protecting themost vulnerablei n ourcommunitythis legislationasp roposeddoesthe opposite Thankyou for your time Parent