National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2242
Dear Senators,
I am writing to formally express my deep concerns regarding the proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
I am a mother of a 27-year-old boy directly impacted by the NDIS. Specifically, I see the daily realities of my son’s life dealing with challenges associated with autism, cerebral palsy, and global developmental delay. Our daily challenges are profound, making navigating life with limited support incredibly difficult.
I love my son dearly and go above and beyond every day ensuring his safety, well-being, dignity—his quality-of-life standard often taken granted without disability.
Due intensive care needed since my elderly mom broke her hip at almost age-80 has helped over years caring while work is overwhelming now can’t juggle full-time stress unsustainable heavy psychological burden worrying about what will happen when no longer around unfair burden eldest son.
The NDIA vital lifeline family provides essential structures allowing me catch breath reset sustain long-term caregiving role deeply concerned following aspects legislation:
- Unilateral Ministerial Powers: Giving minister power override NDIA cut participants’ plans arbitrarily undermines trust strips stability vulnerable families;
- Shifting Burden Care: Proposed cuts social community supports inevitably shift unpaid care back onto families disproportionately impacting women already stretched breaking point;
- Threat Local Service Provider Viability: Reducing budgets cause specialized local providers such as FitAble Australian Institute for Human Wellness Mates4U Stellar Experiences to lose clientele threatening financial viability reducing choice participant;
- Social Isolation: These cuts reduce worlds lives smaller more isolated eliminating access out activities foster joy friendships independence;
- Lack Meaningful Consultation: Framework being advanced genuine co-design thorough consultation with very participants carers frontline service bear consequences;
- Undermining Early Intervention: Reducing early intervention approaches short-sighted increase costs unmet needs disappear simply manifest later crises health mental emergency departments justice system.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2242
Furthermore, state governments have explicitly indicated they cannot replicate individualized NDIS services.
- Automated and AI Decision-Making: The implementation of automated algorithms to assess and monitor plans is highly alarming. Human functional needs cannot be calculated by a computer program. We saw the devastating psychological and systemic harm caused by Robodebt when automated government systems lack human empathy and oversight.
- Shift Towards a Welfare Model: These changes signal a regressive shift in how the government views the NDIS—treats it as if it were akin to a capped income-support or welfare scheme instead of being based upon entitlements aimed at fostering community inclusiveness and self-reliance within society’s framework. The NDIS aims to guarantee equality along with respect towards individuals who are disabled throughout Australia; hence I strongly advise against any modifications which might undermine these core principles thereby imposing undue burdens on participants themselves alongside their families alike. Thank you very much, yours faithfully,