Human Rights Commission urges Australian Government to ‘hit pause’ on NDIS reform Bill

Australian Human Rights Commission Media Release

The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling on the Australian Government to halt the passage of its controversial National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Amendment Bill until significant human rights concerns around process, accountability and the impact of the reforms are addressed.

The Bill – which is currently being reviewed by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs – would deliver the biggest ever cuts to the NDIS with tightened eligibility to reduce participant numbers and a substantial reduction in funding for social and community participation. The proposed cuts have been met with considerable fear and resistance from people with disability and the many organisations which represent and support them.

The Commission recognises the need for necessary reform of the NDIS to ensure it meets its intended purpose, it is sustainable and that serious market failures are addressed.

However, the Commission’s President and 7 Commissioners have jointly urged the government to slow down the pace of reform and take a more considered approach to modifying the scheme in a way that protects and promotes human rights.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess: ‘The NDIS is an important national achievement that has transformed the lives of people with disability in so many ways. From young adults being able to live independently to people overcoming exclusion by helping them find and keep a job to supporting families of children with disability. There are so many stories of lives being transformed by the NDIS, whether that’s getting a job they’re passionate about or falling in love and getting married. These things are precious and must be protected.

‘Everyone acknowledges the scheme needs reform to address fraud and market failures. But the government is dismissing genuine concerns that their proposed changes will seriously erode the life-changing impact the scheme has delivered for hundreds of thousands of people with disability across Australia.

‘My colleagues and I have some very serious reservations about the process the government has taken to arrive at this point. There’s been no formal response from the government to the NDIS Review and there’s been no meaningful involvement and participation of people with disability in the design of the proposed reforms.

The Bill raises serious concerns by establishing sweeping ministerial powers and reduces avenues of accountability. Automated decision-making is being introduced without a legislative framework, as was recommended by the Robodebt Royal Commission. There’s inadequate attention being given to how cuts to funding for social and community participation will only shift these needs onto other systems like hospitals and schools, systems that are already under strain. And there’s still been no gender impact analysis of the different ways the reforms would affect women, men and people of diverse gender.

‘We note that disability ministers from across all states and territories are also calling for the pace of the restructure to slow down so alternative measures can be developed and made available for people who will lose access to the NDIS because of the proposed changes.

‘With so many people and organisations across the government and disability sectors raising serious concerns, the Australian Government must hit pause on the passage of this Bill and undertake a much more considered and consultative approach to reforming the NDIS.’

Commission President Hugh de Kretser: ‘The NDIS is one of the most important human rights reforms by Australian governments in recent history. It is improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with disability in Australia by supporting them to live more independently, access work, gain new skills and spend quality time with family and friends. The proposed changes are significant. The Australian Government needs to match the scale of these proposed changes with appropriate consultation, transparency and respect.

‘The Australian Parliament’s own human rights committee has raised concerns that the changes “constitute a significant interference with the rights of persons with disability, the rights of the child and the rights to an adequate standard of living, equality and non-discrimination, health, privacy and social security.” The Australian Government should delay this Bill until it sufficiently addresses the concerns being raised.’

Read the Commission’s submission to the Senate inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.