Key facts
- Crossbenchers and the Greens have criticized the Australian government's NDIS overhaul bill.
- The bill aims to curb the NDIS's growth and is expected to pass Parliament soon.
- The Greens and Senator David Pocock argue the changes are 'too far, too fast' and will lead to indiscriminate cuts.
- The government estimates the NDIS cost will increase significantly without intervention.
- The proposed changes include tightening eligibility criteria and introducing independent functional assessments.
- Disability advocacy groups warn the changes will shift care responsibilities to families, disproportionately affecting women.
Crossbenchers and the Greens have strongly criticized the Australian government's proposed overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), describing the changes as going "too far, too fast." In a scathing Senate inquiry report released Friday, these groups warned that the proposed reforms, intended to curb the growth of the $52 billion program, could lead to blunt and indiscriminate cuts to individual budgets.
The bill, part of the government's plan to regain control of the NDIS and save an estimated $37.8 billion over four years, seeks to tighten eligibility criteria and implement independent functional assessments from 2028. It would also grant the NDIS Minister, Mark Butler, the authority to reduce funding categories for individuals by up to 99%, with a 50% reduction already planned for social, civic, and community participation budgets.
The government estimates that without these interventions, the NDIS's annual cost could more than double to $117 billion within a decade. The Greens, while acknowledging some reforms are needed, proposed an alternative funding solution: a gas export tax. Greens senator Jordon Steele-John stated the government's choice to cut supports rather than tax gas exports reveals its priorities, arguing it favors corporate profits over the lives of disabled people.
Guardian Australia has reported that approximately 241,000 NDIS participants may be removed from the scheme by June 2031 due to the functional capacity test, aiming to maintain participant numbers around 600,000. An additional 105,000 individuals are expected to be prevented from entering the scheme during this period. Those removed are anticipated to be supported by state and territory programs funded jointly with the Commonwealth.
Senator David Pocock emphasized that no participant should be removed until these new programs are fully funded, operational, and accessible, pledging continued scrutiny. He stressed that the experiences of people with disability must remain central to future decisions. Coalition senators also contributed comments, expressing concerns that the NDIS's fraud and integrity issues have not been adequately addressed.
Disability advocacy groups have voiced significant opposition, warning that caring responsibilities will be shifted from the NDIS to families, with a disproportionate impact on women. Sophie Cusworth, CEO of Women With Disabilities Australia, called for a comprehensive gender impact assessment, stating that legislation risking women's safety, care, health, and economic security is not gender equality but neglect.