A plain language summary of Every Australian Counts’ supplementary submission

The Government has made some changes to the NDIS Amendment Bill after people with disability, families and organisations spoke out.

These changes are welcome.

But they do not fix the biggest problems with the Bill.

That is why Every Australian Counts is still calling for the Bill not to pass in its current form.

What we’re asking Parliament to do

  1. Don’t pass the Bill yet.
  2. Publish all the missing rules, evidence and safeguards.
  3. Make further amendments to fix the Bill so it protects the rights, choice and control of people with disability.

Why are we still concerned?

The Bill still gives the Government broad new powers that will affect how people access and use the NDIS.

We are concerned because the Bill will allow:

  • cut funding from NDIS plans across the board
  • impose funding caps that are not based on each person’s individual needs
  • force people towards group homes, shared supports or other unsuitable living arrangements
  • weaken our choice and control over who provides our supports
  • remove thousands of people from the NDIS
  • push people towards services that may not exist or meet their needs
  • restrict our ability to challenge and appeal unfair funding cuts or inadequate plans
  • place more pressure on families and unpaid carers
  • leave important decisions to future rules that the Parliament and the community have not yet seen.

There are still too many unanswered questions

Since the Bill was introduced, the Government has changed some of the evidence used to support it.

For example, updated modelling shows many more NDIS participants rely on the Supported Capacity and Capability Program than was first reported. The Government has also revised its figures about potential fraud and non-compliance.

These changes raise important questions about whether Parliament has all the information it needs before making decisions that affect hundreds of thousands of Australians.

What does Every Australian Counts want?

We support an NDIS that is fair, sustainable and works well.

But changes should only happen when they are:

  • based on good evidence
  • designed with people with disability
  • properly tested
  • supported by clear safeguards
  • transparent and open to public scrutiny.

Before this Bill goes any further, Parliament should: 

  • Address the dangerous parts of the bill through the amendments that we have proposed 
  • publish the missing rules, evidence and modelling, 
  • make the necessary changes to protect participants’ rights, 
  • and give people with disability time to review them.

Our message

The NDIS was created to give people with disability choice, control and the support they need to live ordinary lives.

Any changes to the Scheme must protect those principles.

We believe the Bill still needs significant changes before it can safely become law.

Take action

People with disability, families, carers and supporters have already made a difference. Because people spoke up, the Government has made some changes to the Bill.

But there is still more to do.

The Bill still needs important changes to protect the rights of people with disability.

You can help.

Send a message to your Senators and ask them to:

  • not pass the Bill yet
  • publish the missing evidence and safeguards
  • make the changes needed to protect the NDIS.

Take action through our Do Gooder campaign today.

Tell your Senators to protect the NDIS.

Together, we can protect an NDIS that gives people with disability choice, control and the support they need.