Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) expresses our deep disappointment about the passing of the NDIS Amendment Bill. We acknowledge the hurt, distress and fear within the disability community.
Like many of our members, we are concerned about the impacts the Bill will have. We are worried that these changes will make it harder for people to access the supports they need from the NDIS, which are vital for them to be able to live the lives of their choosing. We are also worried about the impacts the Bill will have on people’s access to – or removal from – the Scheme. We are concerned that the legislation and changes to the meaning of NDIS Supports could disproportionately impact women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities, and other communities who experience marginalisation and disadvantage including First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Throughout this process, we have worked hard to amplify the voices of our community through written submissions, evidence at Public Hearings, and ongoing advice to Government. We have consistently called for an approach to NDIS reforms that keeps people with disabilities at the centre, and serves to uphold our rights. We recognise that the NDIS needs to change to make sure it is working for people with disabilities – but the changes must be led by and with the disability community.
Like many other Disability Representative Organisations, we express our concern about the limited engagement with people with disabilities and our organisations throughout this process. There has not been sufficient opportunity for genuine engagement and co-design with the people whose lives will be most impacted by these changes.
We ask the Government to acknowledge the distress our community is feeling, and to address these concerns through clear, accessible communication about the changes the Bill will make. This includes information about the transition process, including:
- how changes will be implemented, and what impact this will have on current and future participants
- how long the transition process will take
- how people with disabilities and our representative organisations will be involved in the co-design and co-production of the new rules
We also urge the Government to:
- ensure that no participant will be worse off as a result of these changes, including through preventing harmful debt recovery processes and penalties
- protect current and prospective participants’ rights to independent review of all decisions that impact them
- work closely with people with disabilities and our representative organisations to co-design and co-produce any new rules, policies and processes, as equal partners with equal voice
- ensure that any changes made to the Scheme promote the full realisation of the rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and align with existing commitments including Closing the Gap and the National Strategy for Gender Equality
As a Disabled People’s Organisation, we are also personally impacted by these changes, and will take time to consider them in full.
We will continue to advocate ensure that the human rights of all Australians with disabilities are protected and promoted. We will continue to work to ensure the voices of people with disabilities are heard and included in NDIS reforms. We are committed to working alongside the Government to achieve the best possible outcomes for our members and the wider disability community.
