Gabriel Ng (Menzies, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is one of the most significant social reforms in Australia's history, and it is reform grounded in Australian values of dignity and fairness. We invest in people with disabilities so that they can have the greatest possible degree of independence and participation, not only because it is the just thing to do but because it is the smart thing to do.

The significance of the NDIS being called an 'insurance' scheme reflects the fact that anyone, any of us, could acquire a disability. Having worked as a personal injury lawyer, I have seen that, no matter what your position is in life, an accident can have lifelong, catastrophic consequences. In my electorate of Menzies, the NDIS is one of the issues we hear most about. It is not always raised in every conversation, but, for those that rely on it or for families who care for someone who does, it is their No. 1 issue. It shapes their daily lives and their future. Those who use it value it deeply. They recognise it as a vast improvement on what came before.

Last year I met with Nakisa and a group of parents and carers who rely on the NDIS to support their children. It was clear how much love and care they put into ensuring their children have the best possible lives. It was also clear that this often put a strain on them, both financial and emotional. The NDIS is central to providing them the support that they need. It provides essential care that allows their children to live with dignity and comfort and to have the chance to go on outings and socialise—things that we often take for granted.

These carers valued the NDIS deeply, but alongside that appreciation was another concern about the future. Many spoke about what would happen when they are no longer there to advocate for their children. They want certainty that the system will be safe, that providers will be accountable and that safeguards will be strong enough to protect their children from harm or exploitation. Many also spoke of rorting, and those that did recognised that, unless there was greater integrity in the scheme, it risked losing public support.

Two parents provided an example of a tradie who submitted an invoice to do modifications on their home to accommodate the needs of their disabled son. When the tradie heard that the modifications were for the NDIS, they submitted another invoice for a much higher figure. These conversations demonstrated an important point that participants and families are asking for greater integrity in the system, to protect them and their loved ones and ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent as it should be—improving the lives of people with disabilities.

In 2022, when we came to government, the scheme faced unsustainable 22 per cent annual growth and inadequate fraud controls. It was not just financial risk; more importantly, it risked harm to participants and the social licence for the scheme. That's why this government invested $550 million to tackle fraud and strengthen oversight, and now we're in the position where more claims are processed and reviewed in a single day than were reviewed in an entire year under those opposite.

The bill strengthens integrity and safeguarding within the NDIS through targeted reforms. It introduces a tiered penalty framework so penalties reflect the seriousness of misconduct and deter wrongdoing. Registration conditions will be expanded, and information-gathering powers will be enhanced. Banning powers will also be extended to additional actors involved in the scheme, including auditors and consultants, ensuring consistent standards. This bill also introduces antipromotion orders to restrict harmful or misleading practices, and it strengthens the commission's enforcement tools and improves information sharing. The bill includes enabling measures for the agency. It provides clearer pathways for participants who wish to exit, allows the CEO to specify how claims are submitted to support secure digital processes and clarifies plan variations. This bill is not about making it harder for providers, the vast majority of whom do the right thing. It is about ensuring a fair and consistent system, protecting it from exploitation, supporting good providers and building trust.

The NDIS is a cornerstone of our social safety net. It reflects our values as a nation and our commitment to fairness and inclusion. This bill takes an important step towards achieving those goals and ensures that the NDIS remains focused on what matters most: supporting people with disability to live with dignity, independence and opportunity. I commend the bill to the House.

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