National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3141
Dear Senate Committee,
I am the parent of , who has significant and severe autism, Intellectual disability, epigenetic epilepsy, Generalised anxiety disorder and OCD.
He does not function at all without support and any progress is entirely dependent on having 24/7 support to eat, to toilet, to shower, to communicate, to drink, to take many medications, to navigate community and to keep himself and others safe.
Without this 24/7 support is at risk of self harm and harm to others which has been proven over and over when he had inadequate supports.
I strongly oppose the proposed NDIS Amendment Bill. The scheme was established as a human-rights based system to guarantee personalized support. The proposed legislation threatens to dismantle these foundations by prioritizing financial sustainability over participant wellbeing and independence.
’s human rights and the rights of others to be safe would be at risk.
- Access to the NDIS and the Functional Capacity Test The transition to a new, heavily restricted “functional capacity” test is highly concerning. The Bill formally defines capacity as someone’s ability to undertake activities without support. This creates an unrealistic and dangerous baseline.
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Many disabled people require assistive technology, modifications, or human support to function. is no exception and he requires round the clock support to function safely and humanely.
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Forcing applicants to prove they cannot function at all before receiving help creates an unreasonable barrier to entry, forcing people to deteriorate further to access basic human rights. In addition, in ’s case, the Bill suggestions would put and others at significant risk of harm and be life threatening.
That is, to prove capacity would be to threaten life.
- Recognition of Capacity Limits The Bill grants sweeping powers to the Minister to arbitrarily cut funding across entire categories of support without parliamentary approval.
- Arbitrarily capping or slashing budget allocations (such as the reduction in social, civic, and community participation supports) ignores individual, assessed, and clinically justified needs. In this case, needs a very high level of support in community. It has been documented and proven over and over that
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3141
without 1:1 constant support can touch people inappropriately and cause panic and trauma.
He requires a constant redirection and care to remind him of the social norms.
This is not because he is a bad person but his Intellectual disability and constant absence seizures do not allow him to process and memorise the basics.
- Capacity-building is not a “bonus”—it is a critical necessity for maintaining mental and physical health, developing independence, and avoiding crises. Cap limits treat participants like an aggregate budget line rather than individuals.
Capacity building for someone with severe autism is not a half or part process. requires a dedicated and safe and consistent team – as is part of autism requirements to build capacity. If this is provided over a long time then there can be lasting gains. Short term supports which come and go depending on the whim of decision makers not only disrupts and regresses capacity building but risks permanent trauma to participants like who feel the impact of inconsistency very deeply.
- The Need for Support for Basics The NDIS was designed to cover the reasonable and necessary costs arising from a person’s disability. Under this Bill, shifting responsibility for everyday necessities or clinical/palliative care onto state systems (often referred to as Foundational Supports) lacks adequate funding or national consistency. People with disabilities who require support for basic daily activities are being left in a vacuum, with the risk that neither the NDIS nor state governments will cover their essential needs.
If loses more basics (as he already has lost a lot with changes over the last 2 years) it puts him at serious risk of death.
cannot look after his hygiene and increasingly has medical issues due to the neglect of the system.
This can and will lead to infections and early death which is a terrible outcome of these constant cost cuts to those most vulnerable.
The NDIS should empower individuals, not just manage deficits and reduce costs. I urge the Committee to recommend significant amendments to this Bill to guarantee individual rights, ensure access based on genuine need, and protect the original, person-centered intent of the NDIS.