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

Submission 2027

To the senate committee,

I am not on the NDIS, and don’t anticipate will change in the immediate future. I know a number of people who have benefited from it. After hearing their concerns around the proposed changes I decided to look into them myself, and so am now writing to you with my own severe misgivings.

I could point out how in a larger context this is a “savings at any cost” approach to a very vulnerable group of people. That the proposed changes are primarily roadblocks meant to make both getting and using the NDIS benefits harder for those who need it.

For a more specific concern, take the expanded power it grants the Minister for Health. As far as I am able to understand it, the only purpose for the power to cut funding without appeal is to ensure any hypothetical savings are met. This goal is implied by the wording in the bill itself, where “the need to ensure the financial sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme” is given special attention.

I don’t think we should give ministers greater powers without good reason, and “terrorise the disabled to save money” is not a reason I can approve of. If the minister needs this then we need a new minister.

I could try and argue the rest of the bill, but I am short on time and a slow writer. I am sure there’s some good policy in there, but I lack the expertise to identify it. Due to the intent behind it, I am opposed to the bill as a whole.

Yours sincerely,

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