NDIS Minister Bill Shorten Introduces New Legislation

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has today tabled a bill to parliament to implement priority recommendations from the NDIS Review. The bill is called National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024’- the NUMBER 1 definitely suggests this is just the first instalment of a continuing saga.

In his speech to parliament, Shorten listed four principles that guided the changes, they were:

·        Making NDIS a better and streamlined experience.

·        Moving the NDIS back to its intention of supporting people with significant and permanent disability.

·        Creating more equality

·        Ensuring the sustainability of the Scheme. Shorten emphasised that the Federal government’s position is that the NDIS can’t keep growing at the level it is now. 

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Shorten emphasised that the changes will take time and the Review recommended a 5 year transition period. This Bill is not the government’s response to the Review’s recommendation, but it is part of their response to address some priority areas.

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There will also need to be changes to the NDIS Rules and Operational Guidelines, a process that in itself takes months- much like requesting Assistive Technology from the NDIS. Shorten also mentioned the word ‘co-design’ an uncountable number of times.

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