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In the wake of the Federal Budget, key figures in the disability advocacy community have rallied against the Labor government’s proposed multi-billion dollar budget cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
On Thursday, the Greens introduced a senate amendment and demanded an inquiry into the potential social devastation caused by the budget. Greens Senator, Jordon Steele-John, argues these reforms are an unprecedented budget cut that is being unfairly fast-tracked through the legislative process without sufficient oversight.
“They are seeking to send it to inquiry that will report by the 16th of June that is ridiculous.”
He then directly challenged the Albanese government by suggesting the reforms contradict the government's perceived obligations to the disability community.
These cuts are immoral…This is not what you were elected to do.
Greens Senator, Jordon Steele-John
The Greens Senator then tabled the proposed compromise that would see the inquiry extend its report to August.
"Giving at least some sensible amount of time to engage disabled people, to enable proper hearings, to enable people to actually make submissions,” Mr Steele-John states.
It comes just a day after he was handed a petition to Parliament by Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, Megan Spindler-Smith, with over 14,000 signatures to signal that the disability community does not accept the changes by the budget.
Senator Steele-John say he is committed to tabling it in the Senate on behalf of the disability community.
“I will proudly... table this petition in the Senate…All of us in the disability community are united against these savage labor cuts…It is a dagger to the heart of our NDIS, and we in the community do not accept this from the government,” he says.
Mx Spindler-Smith says the petition represents a community that feels "let down" and is united in its refusal to accept reforms, arguing that the government is "finding savings on the backs of people with disability.”
These are not cuts to luxuries, these are cuts to our everyday lives.
Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, Megan Spindler-Smith
At a press conference opposing the cuts, the Acting CEO explained how the $38 billion in savings would come directly from payments intended for basic supports that allow people with disability to experience independence and equality.
“There are cuts being made before there are new systems in place and the chasms that will occur without decent and effective reform with people with disability are important and will create impacts that have long-lasting effects,” they say.
Spokesperson from Every Australian Counts, Mark Peach, went a step further, claiming that the slashing of NDIS resources will result in further lives being lost under the reforms.
"We’ve got people... sharing stories of plans that are being slashed, lives that are collapsing, and unfortunately, in some cases, lives being lost.”
Additionally, disability advocates are disappointed the budget did not include an increase in funding for the NDIS appeals process, arguing that more funding is needed to support the 160,000 people who risk losing access to the Scheme and will likely need to appeal decisions.
CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), Emma Bennison, says the advocacy workforce is already under "significant pressure," and without a funding increase, they will be unable to meet the needs of those navigating the complex appeals process during this period of reform.
Recent workforce survey data released through the National Centre for Disability Advocacy shows that seventy-three percent of advocacy organisations have experienced increased demand in the last twelve months.
[Labor’s] budget’s been framed as a budget of care and opportunity. For thousands of people with disability who are already losing essential supports, that framing is deeply out of touch and, frankly, insulting to us.
CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), Emma Bennison
While the DANA CEO welcomed the Inclusive Communities Fund and the recognition that inclusion matters, she cautioned against the continued focus on group-based activities and capacity building.
“Too often, that framing treats disabled people as the problem to be fixed, rather than recognising that communities, systems, and institutions need to build their own capacity to become genuinely inclusive,” Ms Bennison explains.
"We look forward to collaborating with government towards real inclusion, and that means investing in communities to remove barriers, shift attitudes, and ensure people with disability can participate equally in everyday life.”
Powerd will keep you updated as this story unfolds.