National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2781
31st June, 2026
SUBMISSION TO SENATE COMMITTEE
NDIS AMENDMENT BILL 2026
By Father and carer of NDIS client
My name is Wayne Wilson. I am father and carer of L an NDIS client who suffers from ASD Level 2, morbid obesity related to this autism and is under referral for both ADHD and hyperthyroidism.
L ’s main barriers are social, where L struggles to engage with other people and has focusissues along with sensitivity to noise and loud environments. L has related issues of morbid obesity exacerbated by the refusal or lack of desire to engage or exercise, and possible thyroid issues.
Our primary and most effective way of dealing with L barriers are through NDIS funded services such as community participation, group activities, some employment based training and exercise physiology. Associated with this is a self funded dietician and the GP health plan. These services have already recently been cut which has significantly delayed progress for L .
To us, the NDIS funding is the only effective way of helping L overcome his barriers as not only do no other suitable services exist, these services have been developed and proven to work at dealing with social barriers through the introduction of the NDIS This along with guaranteeing care for our severely disabled, is the very reason it was created; to fill gaps in services that did not exist and insure the care of all disabled people.
In its current form, I oppose the amendment bill as it stands on a number of points. The two principal points are:
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the cuts to social and community participation, which quite frankly in my mind will pose a serious risk of depression and possible self harm to participants losing this (which has already been indicated.)
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The second is the new functional capacity test which I believe will ignore unseen disabilities. They are closely followed by:
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new powers to cut funding without appeal to the Minister which is subject to political influence,
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the Minister being able to cut funding without appeal which is not only subject to political influence but unfair,
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loss of review rights which is also unfair,
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the new ‘all appropriate treatments test’, which relies on services not guaranteed to exist, nor are tailored services if they do. This amount of 200 million is a paltry amount for such service supply as well,
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Automated review; all reviews should be carried out by a trained human. The singular issue we have had direct experience already with is the loss of social and community participation funding. The biggest effect this has had for us is a drop in general happiness with L plus the loss of a day of activities has meant a slight average gain in weight as well. A plan had been developed involving his community participation provider to work in with his ex phys and dietician in moving forward the exercise program at the gym down the road; this had to be canned. Loss of funding in Finding and Keeping a Job has resulted in less variety of training activities including the cancellation of a potential new trainer and volunteer work.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2781
We have seen firsthand the effects of this funding loss. It is pushing these people away from services they rely on to meet social needs, and L case is evidence of that. For us, any more cuts will render several things with L social life difficult or impossible to achieve.
We dread more cuts, as we know well L and his peers, such as other autistic people and Down Syndrome sufferers will lose their only outlet for community participation.
I understand that the NDIS is an expensive scheme.
I’m also aware that we are a very wealthy country, blessed with more resources than most, an economy the envy of the world and are positioned well for the future. I’m aware that we do not collect sufficient resource export taxes on our fossil fuels, and that this government has approved more tax cuts. I’m aware that this government is handing out 2 billion to developers for infrastructure they are already expected to pay for.
I agree with Michael’s Mum, a Facebook blogger with a son on the NDIS, when she points out to us that before we had the NDIS, we never had a genuine referral to how much in monetary and physical terms, mothers and carers behind the scenes have provided for years at their own cost and health. We do now; as Michaels Mum’s observation tells us, this is the true cost of providing fairness and the best quality of life we can to our most disadvantaged. It’s expensive, but we can afford it.
Do we have a point, as the wealthy country we are, supposedly built on the ideals of a fair go as we like to portray, if we cannot continue to care for our most vulnerable?
In light of my position as carer and in view of my son’s conditions, my recommendations to the committee are as follows:
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That the Committee recommend preferably rejecting or at least amending the governments proposed cuts to social and community participation. This is important funding which goes to the core of these individuals happiness,
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That the Committee recommend rejection of the new definition of functional capacity,
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That the Committee reject the Ministerial power to cut funding without appeal,
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That the Committee reject or amend unscheduled reassessment rules and guarantee the right of review, which should always exist,
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That the Committee reject automated review; review should always be carried out by a human and the right should never be infringed,
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That the Committee accept licensing of providers; however a clear system of assisting these people in registration should be in place,
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That only one oversight and investigative board or authority exist for any NDIA providers and clients, not two.
Thank you for accepting my submission. I cannot attend the hearings in person however my submission may be read at the inquiry.