National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 2022
28 May 2026
Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
By email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Dear Senate Standing Committee
Re: Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
On 24 May 2026, I wrote my local MP, the Hon. Alex Hawke MP about my concerns about the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 (referred to hereafter as the Bill) introduced by the Albanese Government. I intend on paraphrasing that letter as my submission for this Inquiry. Due to my current functioning, I am unable to provide a more comprehensive submission at this time. I commend the efforts of the disability community who have provided some compelling submissions that certainly echo my views on this matter.
I of , wish to write a submission to the Committee to express my concerns regarding the Bill. While my submission does not address specific items in the Bill in depth, I have deep concerns with how the Bill has been drafted - with the intention to remove at least 160,000 NDIS participants off the scheme by 2028 and further, reduce funding from plans of current NDIS participants. Where in this Bill does it adequately address Provider fraud?
While it is necessary for the NDIS to be financially viable to exist, cutting off or reducing life- changing supports for people with disability to live more dignified lives undermines the existence of the scheme and the objects of the NDIS Act. In my view, cuts should be directed elsewhere inside the scheme. For example and as a suggestion, reduce spending on internal lawyers employed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to fight appeal applications in the Administrative Reviews Tribunal because the correct or preferable decision was not made in the first instance. Stronger enforcement powers should be given to the NDIS Commissioner to pursue civil penalty proceedings to seek hefty monetary penalties against NDIS Providers (regardless of if they are registered or not) acting out in bad faith. These options do not harm people with disability directly but achieve the same outcome to reduce costs of the scheme. There are ways to balance costs without compromising human rights.
I am also extremely worried about the automated decision-making proposals under the Bill. Decisions that deal with the use of taxpayer dollars should be made by humans with expertise in the participant’s primary disability; not by AI or by an unqualified public servant employed by the NDIA. These decisions that affect people’s livelihoods and should be made with the utmost most level of care.
In the event the Bill passes and participants lose access to critical supports, I urge the Federal government to cooperate with State MPs to lobby for more disability supports to be available to the disability communities across the country. Outside the NDIS, there are limited disability supports. I am attempting to access the NDIS because no other appropriate supports exist for me.
I am an adult woman who has autism spectrum disorder and ADHD and I seek to rely on the NDIS to fund targeted therapies and other supports that would enable me to better function
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 2022
28 May 2026
and live independently. My disabilities have affected my social and economic participation, most prominently my ability to work and hold a job. Due to the only recent awareness of the female presentation of neurodevelopmental disabilities, I was diagnosed at 24 years of age. This means as of only recently, I have identified my need for these long overdue supports and I am unable to fund these privately as my only form income is the Disability Support Pension.
Ideally, the NDIS should be for those with the most significant and permanent disabilities, which I agree is not a category I fall under. However, my conditions are permanent and lifelong and affect me greatly. My symptoms will always fluctuate. Autism is a dynamic disability. Just because my symptoms or functioning at times can be improved, this does not mean I have accessed ‘appropriate treatment’. This definition is flawed and limiting. Again, the government is using clever legislative wording to cut off support and save $$$. As stated above, the NDIS at present is my best chance to assist me with my daily functioning. The proposed change to the definition of a ‘permanent’ disability will further hinder my chances of accessing supports.
The NDIS is fundamental to the Australian community. It creates jobs in the disability sector. It allows people with disability to seek employment and have community engagement. These are only benefits to the economy. It is also a safety net, you can find out or become disabled at any stage of your lifetime, just like I realised at age 24. The cuts will only cause prejudicial outcomes.
I trust many of the items proposed under this Bill is causing anguish to the people with disability, and to carers and parents of people with disability.
I respectfully plead for the Committee to consider the catastrophic repercussions that may arise from the proposed changes in the Bill for the reasons discussed above.
Thank you for reading and I trust you will take my and those of the disability community’s concerns seriously.
Yours Faithfully,