Perth, WA | 14 August 2026
The Youth Disability Advocacy Network (YDAN) is deeply disappointed by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s recommendation that the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 be passed. The committee’s final report made a single recommendation: that the bill proceed.
This recommendation comes after an inquiry that received more than 4,500 submissions and heard extensive evidence from Disabled people, families, carers, advocates, researchers, service providers, and representative organisations across Australia. Throughout the inquiry, witnesses repeatedly warned that the bill risks reducing support, increasing pressure on families, and forcing many Disabled Australians into crisis.
YDAN maintains its position that the bill should not proceed in its current form.
YOUNG PEOPLE WERE CLEAR. THE COMMITTEE DID NOT LISTEN.
YDAN CEO Isabella Choate told the Senate inquiry that the bill would make support harder to access, easier to lose, and would significantly impact children and young people with disability. YDAN also raised serious concerns about parental responsibility provisions, reductions in community participation funding, restrictive eligibility reforms, functional capacity assessments, and the lack of meaningful consultation with young Disabled people.
During Senate evidence, Choate stated plainly that the bill “absolutely should not” pass in its current form. They warned that sustainability cannot be achieved by shifting costs onto Disabled people, families, carers, health systems, education systems, and child protection systems.
“Young Disabled people have repeatedly told Parliament what these reforms would mean in our lives,” said YDAN CEO Isabella Choate.
“The Senate Committee heard evidence about isolation, increased family pressure, reduced access to education, barriers to employment, worsening mental health and the risk of people losing supports that keep them safe and connected. Despite that evidence, the Committee has recommended the bill proceed.”
EVIDENCE FROM YOUNG DISABLED AUSTRALIANS PAINTED A DIFFERENT PICTURE
Throughout the inquiry, young people repeatedly challenged claims that these reforms would merely improve efficiency.
Appearing before the Senate, 19-year-old university student and disability advocate Joshua described how the NDIS transformed his life after experiencing severe mental ill health as a child. He warned that thousands of autistic children could lose access to the supports that helped him survive, participate and build a future. He called for the Government to publish a full cost-benefit analysis of the reforms and urged Parliament not to pass the legislation.
Another young participant, Mia, told the committee that despite significant and complex support needs they receive only a fraction of the support recommended by health professionals. They warned that further reductions would place Disabled Australians at risk of preventable harm, deterioration, isolation and death. Mia also raised concerns that people with multiple and complex disabilities cannot be accurately assessed through simplistic or automated systems.
SUSTAINABILITY MUST NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
YDAN supports genuine efforts to strengthen the integrity and long-term sustainability of the NDIS. However, YDAN rejects the false choice between sustainability and Disabled people’s rights.
YDAN remains concerned that the bill expands barriers to accessing the NDIS; introduces functional capacity assessments that may disadvantage young people with invisible, episodic and neurodivergent disabilities; reduces opportunities for community participation and belonging; increases reliance on unpaid family care; gives significant decision-making powers to future governments and ministers; and proceeds before foundational supports and replacement services are fully established.
The Fight Is Not Over
“We want young Disabled people to know that their voices matter,” said Choate.
“Regardless of the Committee’s recommendation, your experiences have exposed exactly what is at stake. As this bill moves through Parliament, YDAN will continue fighting for a future where Disabled children and young people are valued as citizens, students, workers, leaders and community members, not treated as costs to be managed.”
“The promise of the NDIS was never simply survival. It was participation, dignity, independence, and opportunity. That promise is worth defending.”