Sent on the 29th of May 2024

It’s time again to protect our NDIS!

To our Every Australian Counts community,

Today the future of our NDIS is being debated in parliament.

It’s important to be aware of the changes that are being proposed and what you can do to be heard.

Earlier this month, our community came together to discuss the proposed changes being considered by our parliament. We had senior lawyer Mitchell Skipsey, from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) discuss the impact of this legislation. We had the opportunity to discuss our concerns and what action we want to take.

Key Concerns with the Bill

It is clear that our community holds serious concerns with the changes that the government wants to make to our NDIS.

The key concerns that we are hearing are that:

1) We could lose our right to reasonable and necessary support, as it is currently stated in the NDIS Act.

2) We could be forced to undergo assessments to prove our needs.

3) We don’t know what these assessments will look like, or how they will be used to assess our needs.

4) We could lose our choice and control over what we can purchase with our NDIS funding.

5) People could be forced off the NDIS before the State and Territory governments establish ‘foundational supports’; leaving many in our community without support.

6) People with psychosocial disability could be treated less fairly.

7) People who need 24/7 support could be forced to share support, and be put at greater risk of abuse and neglect.

8) It could be harder to appeal an inadequately funded NDIS plan.

9) Co-design is not written into the legislation.

We raised your concerns in our submission to the Senate Inquiry and when we spoke at the hearings last week. But now it is your turn to have your voice heard by our parliament…

What can you do to be heard?

It’s important our members of Parliament hear your views and concerns. They have the power to demand amendments to the bill and to vote for or against it.

So please take a moment to email the Shadow Minister for the NDIS Mr. Michael Sukkar (), and email your local MP (find yours here). In your emails explain your views about the proposed changes, how the changes will affect you or your family member, and tell them how you want them to vote on this bill.

Ask your friends, family and support people to do the same.

If you want to learn more about the bill, have a listen to what Australia’s only Senator with a disability had to say …

Watch Senator Jordon Steele-John explain his concerns with the bill

I had the opportunity to sit down with Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John,  to discuss the changes to the legislation. To watch click on the video below, or follow the link here. You can also listen to expert disability lawyers explain the bill here.

I have been trying to sit down with Minister Bill Shorten to bring you his perspective with no luck so far. I will keep trying.

Take care everyone, I know that this is a stressful time for our community, please reach out for support if you need it. The number for Lifeline is 13 11 14.

Kind Regards,

Dr George Taleporos
Independent Chair
Every Australian Counts