Overview of the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill 2026

Introduction

On 14 May 2026, the Minister for the NDIS, The Hon Mark Butler MP introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 (“the Bill”) into the House of Representatives (“the House”).

The Bill proposes a number of significant amendments to the National Disability Insurance Act 2013 (Cth) to alter the way the NDIS, as we currently know it, operates.

This article provides a brief overview of the proposed changes. Later articles will take a deeper dive into each area of change for participants, providers and the National Disability Insurance Agency (“the Agency”).

Policy intent of the Bill

In his Second Reading Speech to House, the Minister explained the high-level policy objectives of the Bill, these being to:

• “return the NDIS to its original intent”, that is [to provide] lifetime supports for Australians with permanent and significant disability”;
• “secure the future of the NDIS, so future generations can count on its promise in decades to come”;
• “improve the quality of supports and the operation of the scheme for participants”;
• “deliver more capability to address fraudulent activity by providing the Agency with the necessary powers that it needs to regulate and monitor payments”;
• “[take] up recommendations on measures to improve delivery of the NDIS … made to government by various independent reviews of the NDIS”[i].

So what exactly will the Bill change?

The Bill amends the National Disability Insurance Act 2013 (Cth) to:

1. include a new definition of “functional capacity” to mean “in relation to an activity, the person’s ability to undertake that activity without assistance and excluding, as far as possible, the impact of their environmental and personal circumstances” (paraphrased)[ii],
2. limit unscheduled plan reassessments;
3. clarify the requirement for support needs to be directly related to a participant’s eligible (i.e. access-related) impairments;
4. enable the Minister to reduce funding for specified groups of supports;
5. introduce plan end dates and renewal processes;
6. refine the framework for assessing “reasonable and necessary” supports and update principles applying to participants and their plans;
7. clarify the definition of permanence by introducing the concept of “all appropriate treatment”;
8. require consideration of a participant’s eligibility for other service systems when determining access to the NDIS;
9. expand the Agency’s powers to identify, investigate and respond to fraud and non-compliance and to ensure the integrity of the NDIS;
10. amend governance arrangements relating to pricing decisions, indexation of old framework plans and the automation of administrative actions; and
11. provide for transitional arrangements. 

Where is the Bill at now?

The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs is currently reviewing the Bill, the hundreds of public submissions received, and the oral submissions made at the three3 days of public hearings held in Melbourne and Canberra on 9-11 June 2026.

The Committee is due to provide its report to Parliament by 16 June 2026.

Parliament then needs to consider the report and debate the Bill, as deal with any proposed amendments raised by Members during debate. Both Houses of Parliament must then pass the Bill.

Finally, the Governor-General must give her Royal Assent to the Bill for it to become law. Then, the various parts of the Bill will come into force in accordance with the staggered Commencement times set out in clause 2 of the Bill.

Sector concerns about the Bill

Many prominent disability advocates, the Australian Human Rights Commission, some non-Government MPs, including Senator Jordon Steele-John (Australian Greens), and many others have called for the Bill to be amended, withdrawn or delayed to allow for further consultation, given the eligibility restrictions and funding cuts that seem inevitable if the Bill becomes law. Whether the Government heeds any of these calls, remains to be seen over the coming weeks.

I know that many readers are justifiably concerned too. Let me provide some, at least temporary assurance: nothing has changed yet. For now, the current arrangements remain in force.

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[i] These reviews include the Independent Review into the NDIS (2023); the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (2023); and the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce (2024).

[ii] Clause 4 of the Bill.