The current timeframes for inquiry into, and consultation on, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 (the Bill) are unreasonable and inadequate. The proposed reforms to the NDIS are significant, complex and will impact people’s daily lives and futures. The Australian Government and Parliament must allow sufficient time to genuinely consult on amendments, safeguards and implementation.
The NDIS plays a critical role in ensuring people with disability can live safely, with dignity, independence, inclusion and choice. Its effectiveness and sustainability are essential. However reforms of this complexity and consequence should not be rushed through Parliament without proper consultation.
This Bill proposes very substantial changes that will limit access to the scheme, cut supports, automate crucial decisions and reduce people’s review rights. Many of the details of these critical changes will be left to future rules and Ministerial determination, with life-changing implications for people with a disability.
The changes impact on all aspects of the daily lives of those who rely on the NDIS, including safety, communication, mobility, personal care, family life, education, work and community participation. We are particularly concerned about the harm that may be caused to people who face further structural barriers to access and the shifting of supports to families, carers and informal support networks.
We call on the Government and Parliament to:
- Amend the Bill so that the sustainability of the NDIS is pursued consistently with genuine engagement with the disability community and consideration of human rights, safety, dignity, choice and control of people with a disability;
- Ensure continuity of support so that safe, equivalent and locally available alternatives are in place for persons transitioned off the NDIS who are in need of them;
- Extend the Senate inquiry timeframe on the Bill including to allow genuinely accessible hearings, engagement and consultation with the disability community;
- Release all draft rules, instruments, assessment methods, implementation plans and impact modelling and provide for consultation and feedback on these instruments prior to the Bill’s progression and passage;
- Strengthen access to the NDIS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including access to culturally safe advocacy and legal assistance with particular attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in regional, rural and remote areas. NATSILS also notes a view from our members that the NDIS is not the most appropriate model to provide disability support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations should be resourced to provide culturally safe and fit-for-purpose disability services and supports;
- Strengthen accessible review pathways, independent advocacy and legal assistance for people affected by access, planning, funding and reassessment decisions. Legal need will rise significantly as a result of these reforms and the level of legal assistance available to people affected is well short of what is needed to ensure that they understand and can uphold their entitlements.
The Government must work with people with disability and the disability sector to secure the NDIS by strengthening trust, safeguards and rights - not by rushing changes before their consequences are understood and planned for.
