We have made a submission to the second Senate Committee inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 (‘Bill’).
Our submission should be read alongside our submission and supplementary submission to the first Senate Inquiry into the Bill.
The Bill was introduced by the Government on 27 March 2024 and passed by the House of Representatives, with amendments, on 5 June 2024. Further amendments have been proposed by Senators.
Our submission to this inquiry reinforces our view that, while many of the previous amendments have improved the Bill further changes are required to ensure:
- NDIS participants are assessed and funded at a ‘whole of person’ level;
- the NDIA is required to identify and inform a participant of the impairment(s) it considers meet the threshold for access to the NDIS;
- participants have the right to a replacement needs assessment where requested; and
- participants are protected from overly broad use of the information-gathering powers granted to the NDIA, and the serious consequences of non-compliance.
Reducing unfair fines and over-policing from alcohol-free zones