Address to the House of Representatives, Private Members' Business

Monday 1 September 2025

I also rise to speak about the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I'd like to thank the Member for Herbert for bringing the matter forward and sharing with the House the story of his daughter Emery. I do not doubt the sincerity with which the member has brought this matter forward for the consideration of the House. It does afford us an opportunity to explore the matter further. In the context of this debate, I'd like to acknowledge all the wonderful providers in the electorate of Bean who work with NDIS participants every day.

The NDIS is an important piece of our social infrastructure, developed and introduced by a Labor government. It was a product of a long campaign by Australians with disabilities, and the government of the time listened and acted. What I can see today, and what I'm sure most other members of this place see, is that the NDIS continues to make a real difference in the lives of Australians with a disability, their loved ones and their carers. Over 717,000 Australians with disabilities are benefitting from the NDIS, with their participation enabling them to live lives of dignity and independence. I see the difference it makes in Bean every single day. But, like any government program, particularly a program of this size and importance, regular reviews are critical to ensuring both that it's operating as required and that participants are receiving affordable and quality services.

There are important principles at stake. It's not enough for participants to receive care and support. NDIS participants can be vulnerable due to their disabilities, and the purpose of the scheme is to support and empower them. This core principle cannot be sustained if NDIS participants are paying more than any other Australians to access the same services. But, for too long, NDIS participants have been paying more to access services, and we know this because the 2024-25 Annual Pricing Review found that this was the case. This trend has serious implications. When NDIS participants pay more for the same services enjoyed by other Australians, they have less funding to put towards other forms of support. More broadly, when participants pay more, the financial viability of the entire scheme is threatened. It's easy to step over this particular point, but it's an important one. If we can't manage costs—if NDIS spending gets out of control and can't be managed—the viability of the entire scheme is threatened.

The NDIS is far too important to allow that to happen. So, faced with these challenges, the government needed to act on recommendations of the report, and it has. The decision came after a comprehensive consultation process based upon engagement with key stakeholders, virtual information sessions with over 4,000 providers and the review of more than 10 million transactions. In my own capacity as the member for Bean, I engaged a range of service providers across my community. I engaged with physiotherapists, speech therapists and many others. They are all good people who want to continue to support NDIS participants and want to make clear the challenges in doing so. Unlike other shonky providers, they embody professional values we need all providers to model. I listened to what they had to say, engaged with their perspectives and passed on that feedback directly, and I'll continue to do so. It might have been easier for the government to have not acted right now—to have allowed the situation to develop and evolve. After all, change is difficult and not without loss. But, difficult or not, the change needed to take place, and, by grasping the nettle, the government and the minister have ensured that the scheme will continue to grow and flourish.

To conclude and to echo previous speakers, I want to speak to the situation kids with autism face. They and their families face an unacceptable wait for diagnosis and early intervention. Government support for the Thriving Kids program is critical, and it will help kids in this situation across Australia, whether they're in the cities or the regions. That is the appropriate way to support kids and their families, and I look forward to continuing to support them in this place and beyond.