Submission 2620
Submission 2620
independence, safety, and quality of life. Yet many participants are facing reduced funding, increased scrutiny, and uncertainty about their future supports. This creates the perception that people with disability are being punished for problems they did not create.
The NDIS was never intended to be merely a cost-saving exercise. It was designed to provide Australians living with disability the opportunity to live fulfilling, productive, and meaningful lives. The proposed reforms, in their current form, risk taking Australia backwards by limiting access to supports that enable people with disability to participate fully in society.
If the Government’s objective is to address waste, fraud, and misuse of NDIS funding, greater attention should be directed towards identifying and prosecuting those who deliberately exploit the scheme, including fraudulent providers and other bad actors who profit from the system at the expense of both taxpayers and participants.
I am also concerned about the significant public funds spent on lengthy legal disputes and tribunal proceedings. Many participants are forced to fight for supports that are ultimately found to be reasonable and necessary, with decisions frequently overturned after considerable expense to both the participant and the NDIA. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on legal challenges while participants endure unnecessary stress, delays, and uncertainty. These funds could be better invested in providing timely supports, improving participant outcomes, and strengthening fraud detection and compliance activities.
People with disability should not be treated as a budget problem to be solved. They deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. Any reforms should focus on eliminating genuine fraud and inefficiency while protecting the rights and wellbeing of those who depend on the NDIS.
I am particularly concerned that many participants, carers, disability advocates, and service providers have raised significant concerns about the practical impact of these changes. The voices of those with lived experience must be heard and given appropriate weight when considering reforms to such an important scheme.
I respectfully urge the Australian Government to:
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Reconsider aspects of the proposed legislation that may reduce access to essential supports.
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Conduct meaningful consultation with NDIS participants, carers, disability organisations, advocacy groups, and people with lived experience.
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Ensure that participant choice and control remain central principles of the NDIS.
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Protect the long-term sustainability of the NDIS without compromising the quality of life, independence, and dignity of people with disability.
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Increase efforts to detect, investigate, and prosecute fraudulent providers and others who deliberately misuse NDIS funds.
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Reduce unnecessary legal disputes and redirect resources towards participant support and service delivery.
Submission 2620
- Commit to transparent reporting on the impacts of any legislative changes on participants and their families.
The NDIS has transformed the lives of many Australians living with disability. Any reforms should build upon that success rather than diminish it. A fair and compassionate society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members, and people with disability deserve a system that supports, empowers, and values them.
I ask that the Government place the wellbeing, dignity, independence, and human rights of people with disability at the centre of all decisions regarding the future of the NDIS.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.
Yours sincerely,