Australian Human Rights Commission urges pause on NDIS reform

The Australian Human Rights Commission, led by President Hugh de Krester, issued a joint statement calling on the government to halt proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The commissioners warned that the changes could strip tens of thousands of participants of support, introduce sweeping ministerial powers, and remove existing accountability mechanisms. They highlighted a lack of formal government response to the NDIS review and insufficient involvement of people with disability in designing the reforms, which could affect up to 160,000 people.

Disability advocacy groups and the national legal aid service have also intervened, presenting evidence to an eight‑week Senate inquiry. They argue that the reforms, championed by Health Minister Mark Butler, would cut personal and community support budgets, reduce the scheme’s participant count from 775,000 to around 600,000, and save about $35 billion in the short term. Critics, including former disability royal commissioner Alastair McEwin, say the cuts threaten the rights and wellbeing of people with disability and lack viable alternative supports.