National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3009
I am the grandmother of an adult with multiple disabilities. My granddaughter requires a guardian and trustee and lives in Supported Independent Living (SIL) on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Her disabilities include intellectual impairment and autism, along with several other complex needs. I do not claim to fully understand the NDIS, but I do understand that every dollar of funding is often a battle. My daughter spends countless hours speaking with service providers, gathering reports and documentation, and providing evidence to demonstrate my granddaughter’s needs in order to secure the supports required for her to live a safe, meaningful, and fulfilling life. The proposed changes to the NDIS Bill deeply concern me. There is already a significant amount of red tape, and participants who have permanent disabilities are continually required to prove their needs. One of my greatest concerns is the move towards standardised planning that appears to be based largely on diagnosis rather than individual circumstances. Many people live with multiple disabilities and complex support needs. I cannot see how an automated system could possibly understand the unique challenges faced by individuals, let alone develop suitable plans for people with highly complex needs. A “one size-fits-all” approach is both unrealistic and harmful. It represents a significant step backwards. Another major concern is the proposed reduction in funding for daily living supports. My granddaughter is not physically disabled, but she requires extensive support to safely access the community and manage everyday life. This includes attending medical and mental health appointments, visiting family, purchasing food and essential items, and participating in activities that most adults take for granted. These are not luxuries; they are basic human rights. My granddaughter relies on support workers to help protect her from scammers and people who prey on vulnerable individuals. They ensure she takes her medications, attends appointments, and maintains her health and wellbeing. Without these supports, her safety would be seriously compromised and her health could deteriorate significantly. Reducing these supports will result in more people becoming isolated, confined to their homes, and at increased risk of hospitalisation and other serious consequences. While I acknowledge that there have been instances of misuse within the NDIS, it is not people with disabilities who should be punished for failures elsewhere in the system. Participants should not bear the consequences of poor administration, inadequate oversight, or misuse by providers. Participants are already required to repeatedly justify their needs. Even when expert recommendations are provided, they are often disregarded. I am deeply concerned by proposals that would limit a participant’s ability to challenge or appeal decisions. Granting extensive decision-making powers to individuals who may have limited understanding of disability, while removing avenues for review, is fundamentally unfair. The ability to appeal decisions is a basic principle of justice and accountability. I urge the committee to reject these proposed changes. They diminish individuality, safety,
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3009
quality of life, and the human rights of people with disabilities. Living with a disability is challenging enough without removing a person’s ability to influence decisions about where they live, who they live with, and who provides their support. Choice and control are fundamental human rights, and these proposals undermine both. Instead, I encourage the NDIS to continue developing approaches that recognise the complexity of participants’ lives and to work collaboratively with participants, families, guardians, and support networks to develop truly individualised plans. I am also concerned about proposals that would impose stricter timeframes for participants to respond to NDIS requests or risk being removed from the scheme. Many participants do not have the capacity to independently use technology, respond to emails or text messages, or manage administrative requirements without significant support. My granddaughter requires extensive assistance to respond to phone calls, emails, and text messages and can only do so with support from others. Many people with disabilities also spend periods of time in hospital or experiencing health crises. These proposed timeframes demonstrate a lack of understanding of the realities faced by many participants and their families. The proposed changes to the NDIS Bill 2026 are deeply concerning because they appear to reduce the rights, independence, and dignity of people with disabilities. They will place even greater pressure on families who are already providing substantial support. The NDIS was created to improve quality of life and provide people with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in their communities. When appropriate supports are in place, people with disabilities can thrive, develop independence, build relationships, and have a genuine voice in society. These proposed changes risk undermining those achievements and taking us backwards rather than forwards. I respectfully ask the committee to reject these proposals and to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities, their families, guardians, and carers remain at the centre of all future reforms.