National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2735
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you to express my deep concern regarding the proposed Future Generations (NDIS) Bill.
It is excellent that this senate enquiry is taking place, but I am not sure the consultation process has taken access into account - I tried to use the aph portal, but was unsuccessful, it wasn’t at all easy to use. I am glad that disability advocates published this email address online, so that I could contribute.
The short lead time was an issue too - I have been trying to get this done, but people with a disability need a longer lead time to contribute, as everything is harder for us.
Please consult the disability community when sweeping changes such as this are considered. The NDIS should be co-designed with participants if it is to be just and effective.
I am deeply concerned about the sweeping powers this bill would give to the minister to cut categories of funding for all participants, without reference to their needs or without any independent oversight. These powers will lead to the erosion of disability rights, for political purposes.
Cutting the Social and Community Participation budget of all participants by 50%, without reference to their circumstances, is an appalling move. This funding allows participants to attend medical appointments, work, study, shop for food, register a car, go to the mechanic etc etc etc.
Yes it also allows for a social or recreational outing, but don’t people with a disability deserve access to this too? It is very clear in the legislation that none of the costs of the activity, coffee, meal etc etc are included in the funding, just the ability to access these. Cutting this will mean that disabled people are trapped in their houses as they were before the NDIS was introduced.
Dropping the ‘whole of person approach’ is also a dreadful mistake, which will result in unintended harmful consequences for participants, which under this legislation will be unable to be reversed.
The lack of legal definitions in the legislation for terms such as ‘unanticipated’, ‘reasonable attempts’, and the lack of explicit timeframes are very concerning and will result in unintended negative consequences for participants.
The introduction of civil penalties for participants, and especially automated decision-making that cannot be challenged, as well as ‘transitional rules’ that do not have a timeframe attached to them are likewise extremely concerning.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2735
I live regionally, and travel times for all my workers are longer. Cutting our budgets impacts us drastically, as workers are very hard to get as it is, and if we cannot pay for their travel time, we will be left without workers.
Attempts to remove people with autism and those with a severe psychosocial disability from the NDIS are unjust and will greatly harm participants. Services outside the NDIS are inadequate for their needs.
First Nations concerns have been sidelined. The travel issues in remote areas are even greater than in my area. This legislation will widen the gap in health and life expectancy that already exists between first nations people and the non-indigenous population.
It seems that the majority of submissions have not been uploaded to the website, and no timeframe can be given for this.
This is unacceptable as the bill is due to be debated on June 9, and those debating the bill will need access to these submissions to represent their constituents.
I call on the senate committee to ensure that the human rights of people with a disability are upheld, and thank the senate for the work it does interrogating proposed legislation,
Sincerely,
NDIS participant