National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3455
My name is Annie Fabig. My 31 year old daughter, Hannah has cerebral palsy affecting both legs and one arm. She has been a powered wheelchair user since the age of 3 years and lives in custom built accommodation provided to her by her family. My submission is to highlight the lack of transport currently available in Adelaide and its exorbitant cost. This has significant implications for her isolation. This issue affects many people in the community.
Access cabs and vouchers used to be provided by the state government. This system worked pretty well and Hannah used the number of vouchers she was allocated each 6 months. During Covid many access cab drivers moved to other roles as people with disabilities stayed home due to the fear of becoming sick. For the last few years there have been very few access cabs and private transport providers have setup. Public transport is also available but is not suitable for a vulnerable person when it is dark or in poor weather.
In addition to raising the issue of the shortage of accessible vehicles available, I would like to bring to your attention the expense of using a private transport provider. The costs is quite frankly over the top and the NDIS system which pays these costs is being abused.
The service charges on each transport invoice are:
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time taken getting driver to pickup location
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time taken driving to drop off from pickup location (actual driving client to appointment)
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time taken driving back to base after drop off
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a per kilometre charge for all of the travel. For my daughter to go out for a half an hour drive, the charges each way are regularly over $100. Most of the charges are for the driver to drive to the pickup and back from drop off plus a kilometre charge for this as well. If there were more options for transport, this expensive service would not be used. I have attached invoices for your information with an explanation of the line items. The high costs lead to greater isolation as people limit how often they use the private service. Many people with disabilities have limited work options and these charges are out of line with earning capacity and NDIS transport budgets.
In a recent incidence, the private taxi delayed our pickup time by an hour, because he was delayed at a job. After waiting this extra hour and an additional half an hour, in the rain, we caught two buses home. There were no other transport options for us. It took Hannah 3 hours to get home. She and her wheelchair were wet through and it was dark.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3455
Can transport arrangements, including the number of accessible vehicles and their expense, please be discussed during this NDIS amendment?
If you would like further information or I can help in any way, please feel free to contact me.
Yours faithfully