Submission to the Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

In May 2026, Mental Health Australia made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.

The purpose of the Bill is to provide the scaffolding to enact reforms to the NDIS announced at the National Press Club on 22 April 2026, which include reducing the number of participants, cuts to social and community participation supports and mandatory registration of providers delivering high-risk supports. 

While Mental Health Australia supports the Australian Government’s intention to secure the financial sustainability of the NDIS for future generations, we have significant concerns about this Bill. The Bill seeks to introduce major system reform that has not been tested with the disability community and sector – with deeply concerning implications for access to appropriate disability supports and fair administrative processes. The Bill as it is currently written also stands to disproportionately disadvantage people with psychosocial disability from the point of access, through support needs assessment, support provision and beyond.

Mental Health Australia’s submission offers a starting point for consideration of the unintended consequences of this Bill and offers recommendations about how to mitigate key risks. It also calls to prolong the period of inquiry into the Bill to enable thorough consideration of the consequences of the proposed changes. This would enable Government to work with community on the design of more appropriate policy to support both the financial sustainability of the NDIS and equitable access to disability supports.