MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release

6 August 2026

Every Australian Counts has welcomed the Australian Human Rights Commission’s call for the Australian Government to pause the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Amendment Bill until serious concerns about human rights, accountability and consultation are addressed.

The Commission’s President and seven Commissioners have urged the Government to halt passage of the Bill, adding their voice to people with disability, disability organisations and state and territory disability ministers who have all called for the reforms to be slowed down.

Every Australian Counts Independent Chair, Dr George Taleporos, said the Commission’s intervention should be a turning point in the debate.

“When Australia’s national human rights expert says this Bill should be paused, Parliament must listen. This confirms what people with disability have been saying from the beginning – this Bill is dangerous and our Parliament must vote against it.”

Dr Taleporos said Every Australian Counts supports reforms that strengthen the NDIS and secure its future, but those reforms must be developed with people with disability, not imposed on them.

“The Human Rights Commission has identified serious concerns about consultation, accountability, sweeping ministerial powers and the impact these changes could have on people’s lives. These are fundamental issues that must be addressed before this Bill proceeds.”

Dr Taleporos said the Government could no longer ignore the growing consensus.

“People with disability have raised the alarm. Disability organisations have raised the alarm. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has raised serious concerns. Now the Australian Human Rights Commission has reached the same conclusion. The Government should pause this Bill, work with the disability community and get these reforms right.”

Every Australian Counts is calling on Senators from all parties and the crossbench to support the Commission’s recommendation and ensure the Bill is not passed until the concerns identified by the disability community and the Australian Human Rights Commission have been properly addressed.

Stop the cuts.

Fix the System.

Protect our NDIS.

ENDS

Media contact:
Dr George Taleporos
Every Australian Counts Independent Chair
Text Campaign for contact: 0402 842 040