National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 3982

Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Re: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

I am writing as both the provider of informal supports for a family member who requires 24/7 care and a disability service coordinator and support worker who has worked in disability for almost 10 years.

I strongly oppose the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Secquiring the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 and urge the Committee to recommend that it be withdrawn or substantially amended.

The NDIS was established to ensure that Australians with disability can access the supports they need to participate in society, exercise choice and control, and live with dignity. This Bill moves the Scheme away from this and creates significant uncertainty for participants, families, carers, and providers.

My concerns are that the Bill gives broad powers to government and the NDIA to determine what supports can and cannot be funded, while leaving many critical details to future rules. Parliament is being asked to approve legislation without clear information about how these powers will be exercised or what the real-world consequences will be for participants.

Additionally, the NDIA currently has no accountability in the event that a participant’s funding cuts cause significant negative impacts, regression in progress in capacity or sever safety concerns. This lack of accountability will only worsen if the new bill is passed.

I have experienced first hand how even minor funding cuts can cause significant negative impacts for people with a disability, especially those who require 24/7 or complex supports.

The proposed changes risk excluding legitimate disability-related supports and restricting access to services that many participants rely on to maintain their independence, safety, health, employment, education, and community participation. Participants should not be forced to prove their disability needs repeatedly or face ongoing uncertainty about whether essential supports will continue to be funded.

I am particularly concerned about the impact on people with complex disabilities or care needs. Many participants already experience significant barriers when navigating the Scheme. These reforms risk creating additional administrative burdens, delays, reviews, and disputes that will disproportionately affect people who are least able to advocate for themselves.

The Bill also appears to shift responsibility for disability supports to mainstream systems such as health, housing, education, and mental health services. However,

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 3982

these systems are already under considerable pressure and often lack the resources necessary to meet participants’ needs. Restricting NDIS supports before alternative services are adequately available risks leaving people without essential assistance.

I am deeply concerned about the cumulative effect of recent reforms and cost-cutting measures. While the sustainability of the NDIS is important, sustainability should not be achieved by reducing support for people with disability or limiting access to services that enable participation in everyday life. The sustainability of the Scheme must be balanced with its purpose: supporting people with disability to live independently and participate as equal members of the community.

Meaningful consultation and co-design with people with disability are fundamental principles of disability policy. Many participants, advocacy organisations, carers, and disability professionals have expressed concerns that these reforms have proceeded without sufficient consultation and without adequately addressing the concerns raised by the disability community.

I respectfully ask the Committee to:

• Reject the Bill in its current form; or
• Remove provisions that grant broad discretionary powers without adequate parliamentary oversight;
• Ensure that all disability-related supports necessary for participation, independence, safety, and wellbeing remain accessible through the NDIS;
• Guarantee that no participant loses supports until equivalent services are demonstrably available elsewhere;
• Undertake genuine consultation and co-design with people with disability before introducing further reforms.

The NDIS is one of Australia’s most significant social reforms. Any changes to the Scheme must strengthen, rather than weaken, the rights, independence, and quality of life of people with disability.

Thank you for considering this submission.