Albanese insists NDIS cuts ‘sensible’ if scheme is ‘going to have a future’ amid concerns raised at inquiry

Anthony Albanese has insisted his Government’s proposed cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme are “sensible” as a three-day inquiry hears concerns over the changes.

The Senate hearing has been warned that the government’s new NDIS legislation could push responsibilities on already exhausted families and block people from accessing the scheme.

“It is complex, but these are sensible changes that go to the heart of what the NDIS was for,” the Prime Minister told ABC Breakfast.

“I’m really proud being a part of a government that introduced the NDIS. It needs to, though, be sustainable if it’s going to have a future.”

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess addressed the hearing on Wednesday morning and warned changes could compromise people’s autonomy and independence.

She said the scheme was a significant human rights reform and the proposed bill had potential to shift the NDIS from a rights-based to a function-based model.

“Yes, it will have an impact on people’s human rights,” she said.

“The National Disability Insurance Scheme is one of the most significant human rights reforms in Australia’s recent history.

“It was designed to give practical effect to Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by funding individualised supports to enable independence and participation, and to give people with disability genuine choice and control over their lives.

“They are also the core foundations of the scheme and are most at risk in the changes proposed by this bill.

“However, the issue this bill raises is whether the reforms maintain the NDIS as a rights-based scheme or regress from human rights principles and standards.

“The bill represents a structural shift in how disability is understood, and how support needs are assessed and funded.”

Mr Albanese rejected that the bill was designed to cut the NDIS but rather cap the growth rate.

“Importantly, we’re talking about lowering the growth rate, not cutting the amount of expenditure in the NDIS,” the PM said.

“When we came to office it was growing at 22 per cent annual - you cannot have any program increasing costs by 22 per cent annual.

“One of the reasons was some of the structural issues that were there in the system that enabled essentially not people with disabilities exploiting the system, but people exploiting them in order to make what are considerable windfall gains.”

The inquiry has already received more than 400 written submissions in a fortnight and will be required to report back on June 16.

Advocates have raised concerns that the committee would need more time to consider the legislation.

Officials from the National Disability Insurance Agency, Australian Federal Police, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and Services Australia are also expected to appear before the hearing on Wednesday.