Dear Committee,
I wish to make the following submission (and note I support the work of the PWDA).
It is appalling to think that the Government is trying to find ways to reduce support and make it more difficult for PWD to access support which impacts our most vulnerable people!
Better internal oversight of how staff are providing service delivery to Participants (with an ethical lens) would make some improvements I believe. I have a family member who is having great difficulty accessing the NDIS due to what appears to be time wasting, neglect of duty and public servants who are dodging their responsibility. Further to this, I would like to add the following points:
I am worried the changes the government wants to make to NDIS laws will:
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Put people with disability in danger
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Hurt people’s physical health and mental health
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Put people’s safety and human rights at risk
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Stop people getting what they need to live their lives I am worried the new Bill will mean people:
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lose support they need
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get less support to go out in the community
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have less choice and control
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are not listened to in assessments
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cannot get help when their life changes People with disability must be part of all decisions about the NDIS.
Nothing about us without us.
Key facts about the Bill
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The Bill was introduced to Parliament in May 2026.
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The Senate Committee is looking at the Bill now.
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Submissions close on 29 May 2026. This bill is rushed:
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This bill is rushed and we do not have time to properly understand how this will effect us and to speak up about this
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Self advocates NEED accessible information, like things in easy read and time to think and say how these changes will effect us.
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Because this bill is rushed, SARU helped us write lots of this submission.
But self advocates should be given time and support to lead this work instead.
Social and Community support must not be cut
Social and Community support is very important.
It helps people:
- do things outside of the home they need to do to
- make and see friends
- go to appointments and go shopping
- go to self advocacy groups
- learn skills
- use transport
- join the community
- speak up This support is not extra.
It helps people have a real life.
Without it, people may be stuck at home.
They may become lonely or unsafe.
We ask: Do not cut community support for everyone. Look at what each person needs.
Assessments must be fair
The Bill talks about new assessments.
Assessments must understand real life.
Some people:
- need help to explain their needs
- have good days and bad days
- use different ways to communicate
- feel scared in meetings
- say they are okay when they are not okay
- need someone they trust with them Assessments must listen to the person.
Assessments must also listen to people the person trusts.
We ask: No one should lose NDIS support because of an unfair assessment.
Choice and control must stay
The NDIS should let people choose.
People should be able to choose:
- their workers
- their providers
- their support coordinator
- their plan manager
- how they use their support Trust is very important.
Some people have worked hard to find workers they trust.
New rules must not take this away.
We ask: Keep real choice and control in the NDIS.
People need help when life changes
Life can change quickly.
A person may need more support if:
- their carer gets sick
- they leave hospital
- they move house
- they are unsafe at home
- their mental health gets worse
- their provider stops helping them People should not have to wait too long for help.
We ask: Make sure people can get urgent plan changes when they need them.
Advocacy must be funded
Many people need support to speak up.
Self advocacy groups help people:
- understand changes
- know their rights
- speak up at meetings
- make complaints
- ask for reviews
- stay connected to other people If the NDIS changes, people will need more advocacy support, not less.
We ask: Fund independent advocacy and self advocacy groups properly.
What we want the Senate Committee to do
We ask the Senate Committee to make sure the Bill:
- protects choice and control
- protects social and community support
- makes assessments fair
- lets people get plan changes when life changes
- funds advocacy and self advocacy
- listens to people with disability before changes happen
Final message
The NDIS helps people with disability live our lives.
It helps us be part of the community.
It helps us speak up.
It helps us be safe.
Do not change the NDIS without us.
Listen to self advocates.
Protect our rights.