What we think about the NDIS Bill Interim Report Easy Read

This information was made by Inclusion Australia.

Where we say ‘we’ it means Inclusion Australia.

This document gives an update on the NDIS Bill and what we think about it. 

We made this information to

• Help people understand the changes

• Share information in an accessible way.

Hard words are in bold. 

We explain what they mean. 

The Senate Committee for the NDIS Bill released their interim report this week. 

The Senate Committee is a group of politicians who are looking at the changes the Government wants to make to the NDIS. 

These changes are called the NDIS Bill.

An interim report gives an update on what the Senate Committee think before the final report is finished.  

The Senate Committee received over 4500 submissions from people and organisations telling them what they think about the NDIS Bill.

The Senate Committee said they understand that many people are not happy with the NDIS Bill but they think it should still go ahead with a few small changes.

We think the interim report does not cover all the concerns that thousands of people with a disability and their supporters have about the NDIS Bill.

We are disappointed that the Senate Committee did not make recommendations to change the bill.

We are glad that the Australian Greens has made a deal with the Government to extend the inquiry for another 8 weeks. 

As part of the deal they have agreed to change some parts of the Bill that people were really worried about. For example: 

• The NDIS Minister being able to decide how much money is available for each type of NDIS support  

• People with a disability being made to try treatments and medication they might not want to try before being able to apply for the NDIS

• People losing funding for supports they need to live and work

• Automated decision making. 

This mean decisions about NDIS access and funding are being made by a computer and not checked by a real person.

We don’t know all the details of those changes yet and we will ask more questions about them.

The deal with the Greens and Labor also means there is more time for the Government to:

• Look into the changes and what they will mean for people with a disability

• Listen to what people with a disability and their families and supporters think about the Bill

• Make sure the changes will not hurt or make anyone with a disability worse off.  

Inclusion Australia will keep working with the government and the disability community to make sure changes are fair and safe.

We will keep making Easy Read information about the changes as we find out more.