For Dr Mike Freelander MP, the Federal Member for Macarthur, securing the NDIS for future generations whilst ensuring taxpayers funds aren’t wasted is a top priority.
It is also a top priority of the Albanese Labor Government, who today announced significant steps to restore the NDIS to its original intent of supporting people with permanent and significant disability – and securing the Scheme for future generations.
Over the past 13 years, the NDIS has become an entrenched and beloved national institution.
It has changed lives – and changed our country – for the better.
However, costs are continuing to rise rapidly, participants are too often not getting quality supports, and the NDIS has become a target for shonks and fraudsters, with overservicing being rife.
Without further reform, the NDIS will cost taxpayers more than Medicare and PBS combined.
The Federal Government’s plan to secure the NDIS rests on four pillars:
- Fighting fraud and stopping rorts
- Slowing rapid cost increases
- Clearer eligibility requirements
- Delivering quality services and support to participants
This continues from the work the Albanese Government has done already tackling fraud and non-compliance, having invested over $550 million already into this space and having recently passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025.
But more needs to be done to protect participants and increase the quality of care delivered in the Scheme.
The Albanese Government will introduce the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for future generations) Bill following the release of the 2026-27 Budget.
Changes announced today include:
- Tighter criteria for unscheduled reassessment and measures to reduce plan cost growth.
- Reset participant budgets for social and community participation and capacity building daily activities, using evidence based policies.
- Introduce standardised, evidence-based assessments to determine access to the Scheme.
- Fraud prevention by:
- Improving the quality of plan managers and support coordinators
- Expanding categories of mandatory provider registration and enrolling providers in a digital payments system.
These changes build on work underway to implement critical recommendations of the Independent Review into the NDIS and Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Australians expect the NDIS to support and protect participants permanent and significant disability and their families. Further reform will be done with genuine and respectful consultation with people with disability, the states and territories, and the community.
Quotes for Dr Mike Freelander MP, Federal Member for Macarthur:
“The NDIS is one of our national treasures, and as a paediatrician and a politician, I’ve seen firsthand how this system improves lives for the better.
“I have also seen some of the worst of the worst abusing and rorting this system. Not only does this waste taxpayer funds, but it also means that our most vulnerable are being taken advantage of. This must stop.
“I welcome our Government’s announcement as the NDIS is too important to lose. Its participants deserve a strong and sustainable NDIS.”
