For immediate release

14 May 2026

Every Australian Counts, the grassroots campaign that campaigned to establish the NDIS, has warned that new legislation introduced into Federal Parliament today risks breaking the promise at the heart of the Scheme for people with disability, our families and supporters.

The Bill introduced by the Federal Government proposes major changes to the NDIS Act, including new powers to reduce funding for whole categories of supports, tighter access requirements, restrictions on reassessments and changes that place greater emphasis on Scheme sustainability over individual supports, even where those supports are still accepted as reasonable and necessary.

Every Australian Counts Chair, Dr George Taleporos said “the proposed legislation will concern every Australian who believes people with disability deserve supports to live safely, independently and with dignity.”

“When governments established the NDIS, they made a promise to people with disability and our families that we would receive the reasonable and necessary supports we need to live ordinary lives safely and with dignity,” Dr Taleporos said.

“This Bill risks undermining that promise by allowing the Minister to cut whole categories of NDIS funding, even where those cuts leave participants without enough funding to pay for reasonable and necessary supports.”

The Bill would insert a new section 34A into the NDIS Act, allowing the Minister to reduce funding for specified groups of supports. 

The legislation expressly states these reductions can apply even where the funding provided is less than the actual cost of reasonable and necessary supports.

“That is a major shift in the agreed foundations of the NDIS,” Dr Taleporos said.

“A support could still be recognised as reasonable and necessary, but the person may not receive enough funding to actually access it. That is not a technical change. It is a profound shift in what the NDIS means for people with disability and our families.”

Every Australian Counts is also deeply concerned that the Bill would change the objects of the NDIS Act so the Scheme provides reasonable and necessary supports only “so far as is consistent with the financial sustainability of the scheme.”

“Financial sustainability matters, but it cannot become a justification for reducing essential supports people with disability need,” Dr Taleporos said.

“The NDIS was created so people with disability could live ordinary lives, leave home, participate in the community, work, study, build relationships and have choice over our supports.”

“If passed, this Bill risks changing reasonable and necessary supports from what people with disability need into only what government decides it can afford.” 

Dr Taleporos said people with disability understand the Scheme must be sustainable, but sustainability cannot come at the cost of safety, independence and inclusion.

Every Australian Counts said the proposed legislation could have serious real-world consequences if passed without major changes.

“People with disability are already deeply anxious about cuts to support. This Bill confirms those fears. It would create a legal pathway for government to reduce funding even when the need for that support has already been accepted,” Dr Taleporos said.

“The message to people with disability and our families is devastating: you may be found to need the support, but still not receive the funding you need to pay for it.”

Every Australian Counts is calling for the Bill to be referred to a full parliamentary inquiry and for genuine consultation and co-design with people with disability and our representative organisations before any changes proceed.

“Our lives and safety are at stake here. This Bill needs proper scrutiny and cannot be rushed through. Parliament must not pass a Bill that allows essential NDIS supports to be funded below the level people actually need.”

Every Australian Counts is calling on all Members of Parliament and Senators to stand up for the original promise of the NDIS and ensure the rights, safety, dignity and inclusion of people with disability remain at the centre of any changes.

“We all agreed on supporting people with disability when governments created the NDIS. We must protect our NDIS to protect our lives.,”

“If passed in its current form, this Bill, this parliament and this government will break the original promise of the NDIS,” Dr Taleporos said.

Stop the cuts. Fix the System. Protect our NDIS.

ENDS

https://eac.good.do/stopfixprotect

Media contact:
Dr George Taleporos
Every Australian Counts Independent Chair

SMS only: 0402 842 040