Submission 2608
Dear Committee Members
I would like to keep my personal details confidential please.
I’m wanting to express my concerns regarding the proposed NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
As a nomee/mother of a severely disabled participant who doesn’t have a voice, I wish to speak and advocate for his support, needs, desires and to be included in this world like every other human being. I disagree with this Bill and believe it threatens my son’s right to be heard, make choices and enjoy his life which the NDIS has helped to build and now that will all be taken away. This bill threatens the fundamental principles of choice and control that the scheme was built on.
Sustainability of the NDIS should not come at a cost to disabled participants. They should not lose independence, community access, the opportunities to work and engage in everyday life like everyone else does.
‘Remember anyone, at any time in life can become disabled’ - it might be you next. Would you want to be treated as a lesser human being with no support, being isolated and having to constantly fight for your human rights.
Social participation and community support is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for well being, confidence, independence, communication, safety and being part of the community. I am concerned about these proposed changes as this is used for, help to access Medical/Dental appointments, services, skill training, community and employment. Some examples:
Swimming lessons - safety skills. Health and community - Exercise, fitness, health and wellbeing. Confidence - community, being around people, communicating. independence. Community access - shopping, appointments, activites, outings. Employment/Study - independence, communicating.
These supports may be called Social which may make it sound like it’s optional or things you chose to do for fun, but for most disabled people these supports stop isolation and help get them to appointments, activities, education/training, employment, and out into the community. If this support is cut by 50% disabled people will once again become isolated, ill, lose independence, communication, health and wellbeing, safety.
Submission 2608
Unscheduled plan reassessments should not be more difficult to access. Life and support needs can change quickly because of health, informal supports, housing, safety, work, education, or daily living needs. There shouldn’t be barriers in place when a disabled person’s plan is not working for what they need, it should be a simple process to reassess their plan taking away stress, time and mountains of paperwork.
The NDIS should not see unspent funds as proof that support is not needed. For example my disabled son has not spent all his funds in his plan since the start of covi-19. My son has become very scared and isolated since the pandemic. I am still trying to get him back out into the community and for him to allow people back into our home again. He is scared and it’s taken a very long time to get him to understand that things are OK now and we can go out, the pandemic has caused a psychological impact on my son that he is finding it hard to get past. Because of this we have used a lot less NDIS funding but this does not mean we will not need this funding in the future. I have borne the brunt of his care and the effect and strain on me has been huge. Also funds can be unspent due to being on waiting lists, not being able to find suitable carers and providers or NDIS processes have caused delays. Participants should not be punished for underspending when reasons are out of their control.
This Bill appears to focus heavily on reducing costs, but not enough on the human rights of disabled people and protecting them from being left with no support.
Automated decision making and relying on algorithmic or automated decisions removes the necessary human element and puts everyone into the same box. Disabilities are complex and many on spectrums with very different symptoms for every individual. Clerical workers and automated systems cannot safely assess complex medical evidence.
Recommendations:
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This bill should not pass. It needs to be amended in consultation with participants/disabled people/carers/nominees/disability services. Pause the legislation and allow adequate time for consultation.
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There should be no automatic cuts to supports. This takes away choice and control from the disabled participant.
Submission 2608
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Social and community participation supports should not be cut as they are not an indulgence.
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NDIS assessments need to be fair and individualised on functional impact
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Participants should still have the right when their plan is not working for them to request a reassessment. The Minister should not have the power to restrict a participant’s right to appeal an NDIA decision about their supports.
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Fraud in the NDIS needs to be addressed.
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Waste of funds in the NDIA needs to be addressed.
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Disabled people/participants/carers/nominees must be consulted before changes are made to the ndis
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This Bill should include a statutory duty of care. Which will mandate an enforceable duty of care for providers Australian Parliament House to protect participants from abuse and neglect.
The NDIS is a life line not a ‘BUDGET’ line. The NDIS has changed lives by helping participants get involved in life, community, work/study, communication and be able to make choice and control in their own lives.
I don’t support this Bill and hope it is suspended for proper consultation with disabled people/participants. I hope for fairer, clear rules and reforms that support disabled people to have a better life through the supports the NDIS offers. I am hoping disabled people/participants aren’t made to carry the burden of these proposed reforms for cost savings.
Thank you for considering my submission