National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 587
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
To the Committee Secretariat,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to this vital Inquiry. I am writing as a community member to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed legislative changes and the potential billions in funding cuts to the NDIS.
The NDIS is not just a budget line item; it is a critical lifeline that ensures equity, dignity, and basic human rights for Australians with a disability. I urge the Committee to consider the profound human impact these changes will have on individuals, families, and communities.
- The Human Value of the NDIS
Right now, the NDIS means disabled members of my family can access essential therapies, live independently and participate in the workforce.
Without these foundational supports, my cousins would lose independence, their aging parents would have to take on full time care and they would be isolated at home.
- Changes to the Definition of “Permanence” and Access to Treatment
I am incredibly concerned by the proposed shift in how the NDIA defines “permanence” regarding disability eligibility. Expecting participants to exhaust “all available treatments” before being deemed eligible places an unfair, stressful, and unrealistic burden on vulnerable people.
Crucially, the legislation fails to account for systemic inequities: a treatment may be technically “available,” but entirely out of reach due to exorbitant costs or a total lack of local providers in regional and remote areas. No Australian should be locked out of vital support simply because they cannot afford or physically access a theoretical medical treatment.
- Impact of Reducing Social, Community, and Capacity-Building Supports
The core goal of the NDIS should be to build capacity and foster independence. If capacity-building supports are scaled back, removed, or withheld from new participants, it creates long-term dependency rather than self-reliance.
Reducing social and community access will directly lead to worse mental health outcomes, increased pressure on mainstream state health systems, and deep social isolation.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 587
Targeting Provider Fraud and Mismanagement Instead of Participant Cuts
The financial sustainability of the NDIS is important, but funding should not be recovered by stripping essential services from participants who rely on them to survive. Instead of cutting frontline support, the government must address the real drain on the scheme: unethical businesses and providers scamming the system.
There needs to be a rigorous, comprehensive audit of NDIS registered and unregistered providers to root out overcharging, “disability price gouging,” and outright fraudulent claims. Participants are frequently quoted highly inflated prices simply because they are on the NDIS, while dishonest operators exploit loopholes for profit. Penalizing participants for budget pressures caused by corporate greed is unjust. A targeted crackdown and strict auditing of these businesses will secure the scheme’s future without harming vulnerable Australians.
Lack of Clear Communication
Major changes that alter the fabric of disability support in Australia should be co-designed with the community and explained transparently. To date, these proposed changes have not been communicated clearly enough to the people they will impact most. Forcing legislation through Parliament without clear, accessible explanations strips participants of their agency and breeds immense anxiety within the disability sector.
Conclusion
I strongly oppose any legislative changes that prioritize arbitrary cost-cutting over the safety, well-being, and independence of people with disabilities. I ask the Senate Committee to reject cuts to participant plans, recommend a comprehensive audit of fraudulent provider businesses, and ensure that essential social, community, and capacity-building funds are fully protected.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Sincerely, redacted