National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Stage by Stage

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript. In date order, both chambers.

1. Thursday 14 May 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The debate focused on the government's proposal to reform the National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure its long-term sustainability and return to its original intent of supporting those with permanent and significant disabilities. The legislation aims to tighten eligibility criteria, limit unscheduled plan reassessments, and strengthen integrity measures to combat fraud and non-compliance. It also introduces new governance arrangements, including ministerial control over pricing and the establishment of a technical advisory group for functional capacity thresholds. The bill seeks to address rising costs by resetting funding for certain support categories and improving the regulation of providers and plan managers. The debate concluded with the motion for second reading being moved, though no final vote result was recorded in the transcript.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned after the motion for second reading was moved.

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2. Tuesday 26 May 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   Members debated the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, with Labor members supporting the reforms to ensure fiscal sustainability and combat fraud. Opposition and crossbench members, including Independent Helen Haines, opposed the bill due to concerns over undefined assessment criteria, automated decision-making, and potential cuts to supports for vulnerable participants. The debate highlighted tensions between financial integrity and participant certainty, with critics arguing the changes risked excluding individuals without adequate alternative support systems. Amendments were moved to address consultation requirements and protect regional access, but disagreements persisted regarding the bill's impact on funding and eligibility.

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3. Wednesday 27 May 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   Members debated the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, focusing on the scheme's financial sustainability and structural reform. Labor members argued the changes were necessary to curb cost blowouts and fraud, while Opposition and independent members raised concerns about insufficient consultation, rushed implementation, and the risk of vulnerable participants losing support. Critics highlighted anxiety over the shift to functional capacity-based eligibility and the lack of clear alternative services, with some calling for further Senate scrutiny. The debate concluded without a final vote, as proceedings were adjourned and interrupted.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned and interrupted before a vote was taken.

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4. Thursday 28 May 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading
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5. Monday 22 June 2026 · Senate

   General Debate

   The Senate debated the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, with the Australian Greens and Independent senators opposing it due to concerns over removed supports for 241,000 participants and excessive ministerial powers. The government defended the reforms as necessary for long-term sustainability, citing rising costs and fraud, while Coalition senators raised issues regarding lack of consultation and unquantified fraud. Greens senators argued the cuts resulted from poor budget choices and would cause severe harm to disabled people and their carers. The government representative moved to close the debate, leading to a series of divisions on the bill.

   Outcome: The bill passed the first two divisions with votes of 29-23 and 29-25 respectively, but failed the third division with a vote of 10-32.

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6. Wednesday 1 July 2026 · House of Representatives

   Consideration in Detail

   Crossbench members moved numerous amendments to address concerns regarding eligibility, consultation, and transparency, while the government, represented by Mark Butler, opposed most changes but moved amendments to clarify suspension procedures and refine regulations. Several crossbench amendments requiring independent reviews and limiting ministerial powers were passed, whereas others were defeated alongside many government proposals. The debate highlighted tensions between sustainability measures and participant protections as the House considered various procedural and definitional adjustments. Ultimately, the bill was agreed to after the passage of specific amendments and the defeat of others.

   Outcome: The bill was agreed to and the third reading was made an order of the day.

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7. Thursday 2 July 2026 · House of Representatives

   Third Reading
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8. Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Senate

   First Reading
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9. Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   Assistant Minister Nita Green moved the second reading of the bill, which aims to secure the long-term sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The legislation introduces stricter eligibility criteria, limits unscheduled plan reassessments, and strengthens the National Disability Insurance Agency's powers to combat fraud and non-compliance. Green argued that these measures align the scheme with its original intent of supporting those with permanent and significant disabilities. The debate was adjourned for further consideration on 14 August 2026.

   Outcome: Further consideration of the second reading was adjourned to 14 August 2026.

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10. Monday 17 August 2026 · Senate

    Second Reading

    Senators debated the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026, with the government arguing that reforms were necessary to curb unsustainable cost growth and combat fraud. The opposition supported sustainability goals but criticized the lack of consultation, while the Greens and an independent senator opposed the bill due to concerns over cuts to community participation supports and the use of automated decision-making. Critics argued the legislation would remove supports from 241,000 participants by 2031 and disproportionately harm First Nations people and women, suggesting alternative revenue sources instead. The Minister defended the legislation as essential for financial integrity, rejecting claims that it abandoned vulnerable participants.

    Outcome: The debate was adjourned without a final vote on the bill or the amendments.

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11. Tuesday 18 August 2026 · Senate

    In Committee

    The Senate debated amendments to the NDIS reform bill, with the Australian Greens and Senator Steele-John opposing provisions regarding ministerial powers, functional capacity assessments, and disability definitions due to concerns over sustainability and participant rights. The government, represented by Senator McAllister, defended the reforms as necessary for long-term scheme viability and clarified that immunity provisions protected privacy and investigation integrity. Independent Senator David Pocock and Senator Roberts raised additional concerns about automated decision-making, impacts on vulnerable participants, and accountability mechanisms. The committee stage concluded with progress reported after the Greens' amendments were not supported by the government.

    Outcome: The committee stage concluded with progress reported.

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12. Tuesday 18 August 2026 · Senate

    Second Reading
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13. Tuesday 18 August 2026 · Senate

    Limitation of Debate

    The Senate considered detailed amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme tabled supplementary explanatory memoranda addressing committee concerns. Government amendments were agreed to, introducing changes to funding determinations, debt recovery procedures, and penalties for fraudulent conduct. Amendments moved by the Australian Greens and Independent Senator David Pocock were defeated. The bill was subsequently passed.

    Outcome: The bill was passed after divisions on various amendments, with government amendments carried and opposition amendments defeated.

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14. Wednesday 19 August 2026 · House of Representatives

    Consideration of Senate Message

    Mark Butler moved that the House agree to the amendments returned from the Senate regarding the NDIS reform bill. Butler highlighted that the government had accepted 63 amendments following engagement with parliamentarians and the disability community. The amendments focused on strengthening participant safeguards, clarifying support determinations, and enhancing integrity measures to combat fraud. The House agreed to the amendments, finalising the bill's passage through the legislature.

    Outcome: The question was agreed to.

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