Submission by Opposing the Legislation of the Future Generations Bill
I am a young person who accesses the NDIS, and I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes contained within the Future Generations Bill. These changes will directly impact my life, my future, and my ability to access the supports I need to participate in education, employment, my community, and everyday life.
The NDIS was created to provide people with disability choice, control, independence, and equal opportunity. I believe many of the proposed amendments move away from those principles and risk creating greater uncertainty, barriers, and disadvantage for people with disability.
Section 34A
I strongly oppose the power allowing the Minister to impose blanket reductions to participant plans through legislative instrument without proper consultation, transparency, or fair review processes.
As a participant, my supports are essential to my daily functioning, wellbeing, and future goals. Decisions about funding should not be made through broad government powers without proper consideration of individual needs or opportunities for participants to challenge those decisions.
No single person or office should have unchecked authority over the supports people with disability rely on to live safely and independently.
Section 33(2)(e)(a)
I oppose the Minister having the power to cap supports or set maximum funding amounts for certain supports or support categories.
Every person with disability has different needs. Some people may need support from only one or two allied health professionals, while others may need a larger team of specialists depending on their disability, goals, communication needs, mental health, or physical supports.
Funding should remain flexible and individualised so participants can access the supports that genuinely help them succeed and participate fully in life.
There must also be greater transparency around how funding decisions and caps are determined.
Section 34(1AA) – Whole Person Approach
I strongly oppose the lack of a genuine whole-person approach in this legislation.
As a young person with disability, my needs are connected. Disability does not exist in isolation. Someone may have autism but also experience communication difficulties, sensory challenges, anxiety, nutritional issues, mobility barriers, or social isolation. All of these areas affect each other.
Supports should focus on helping people achieve positive outcomes across all parts of their lives, rather than separating needs into narrow categories that fail to reflect the reality of living with disability.
Section 50A
I oppose the clawback of unspent funds.
Many participants cannot always access supports consistently due to factors outside their control, including hospitalisation, provider shortages, regional service gaps, school commitments, mental health challenges, or difficulty finding appropriate workers.
Flexibility is extremely important. For example, a participant may choose to use smaller weekly support allocations as larger support blocks during school holidays, exam periods, community activities, or times when support is most effective and meaningful.
Participants should not be penalised for using their funding flexibly in ways that best support their disability-related needs and goals.
Section 48A
I oppose the barriers being introduced for participants requesting unscheduled reviews when their disability-related needs change.
Life circumstances and support needs can change quickly, especially for young people transitioning through education, employment, health changes, or increased independence. Participants must be able to access timely reviews and maintain the right to appeal decisions that affect their supports.
Sections 40A and 31A
I oppose the CEO having the power to suspend participant plans if contact cannot be made within a certain timeframe.
People with disability may face communication barriers, mental health challenges, executive functioning difficulties, hospitalisation, or crisis situations that affect their ability to respond immediately. These circumstances should never place someone at risk of losing their supports.
I also oppose the introduction of civil penalties without proper consideration for participants with intellectual disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries (ABI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or psychosocial disabilities that may affect communication, understanding, or administrative capacity.
Section 9B
I oppose the “naked person” approach to eligibility assessments.
Disability is lifelong for many participants. Supports are not optional extras — they are what allow people with disability to access education, employment, healthcare, relationships, and community participation.
Eligibility assessments must recognise the real-world supports people need to function safely, independently, and equally within society.
Schedule 5 – Transitional Rules
I oppose the broad powers allowing the Minister to create transitional rules based on the priorities or agenda of the government of the day.
Young people with disability need certainty, stability, and confidence about their future supports. Decisions that affect participants’ lives should not be vulnerable to changing political priorities without proper safeguards and consultation.
Stronger limits and independent oversight are needed around transitional arrangements.
Consultation and Government Responsibility
People with disability, including young participants, must be genuinely consulted on reforms that directly affect their lives and futures.
The Government must also work collaboratively with states and territories to clearly define responsibility for supports outside the NDIS, similar to the arrangements previously established under the COAG Agreement. Participants should not be left confused or unsupported because governments fail to coordinate responsibilities.
People with disability deserve to be heard, respected, and included in decisions that shape the systems we rely on every day.
The NDIS should continue to empower people with disability — not create more barriers to participation, independence, and dignity.