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The Federal Court has allowed the NDIA’s internal compensation-reduction calculator to remain confidential. But how can participants challenge calculations when the machinery behind it stays hidden?

Justice Natalie Charlesworth has allowed the National Disability Insurance Agency to keep the calculator it uses to reduce NDIS supports confidential - in some cases.

In a Federal Court decision the judge ruled that if a participant has received compensation elsewhere, the spreadsheet remains locked.

Amanda Pett was challenging a compensation reduction amount applied to her for supports. The NDIA produced spreadsheets showing the calculation, using settlement details, actuarial material, estimated lifetime support needs and scheme records. But critically, the working files also contained live formulae and internal methodology.

The agency was desperate to keep these secret. It got what it wanted.

But the Judge didn’t accept everything the NDIA argued. Its privacy argument failed. So did the claim that other participants might misuse the tool. Inconvenience is not enough.

What worked was narrower: the Tribunal had already made a confidentiality order over the same spreadsheets. Letting the Federal Court files open without resolving that clash risked bringing the administration of justice into disrepute.

So the calculator stays secret.

This is legally neat, but not necessarily a win for transparency.

The NDIS can reduce support by calculation. The person affected may still not see the full machine doing the maths.

This decision was first reported by Tez Romero for insurancebusinessmag.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

The NDIS Future Generations Bill has moved into second reading debate, with the coalition’s position splitting into two tracks: Melissa McIntosh focussing on scrutiny and amendments, while Jonno Duniam continues a fiscal fight over CGT and negative gearing.

Sky News and The Australian are framing NDIS savings as already absorbed by new spending, making the Scheme not just a reform problem but a credibility test for Labor’s fiscal story.

Data Watch: NDIS cuts total $36.2bn over four years; increased spending in the Budget comes to $36.7bn. Sky News is now framing the Government’s broader ‘spending surge’ as consuming the full $36.8bn NDIS saving.

Bottom line: The Opposition is testing how far it can use the Bill as leverage.

NDIS Future Generations Bill moves into second reading debate

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 moved to second reading debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. The page lists proposed amendments from Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Melissa McIntosh, Dai Le and Nicolette Boele.

Parliament of Australia

Senate inquiry into NDIS Bill is accepting submissions

The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the NDIS Future Generations Bill is accepting submissions. The inquiry notes the committee cannot resolve individual NDIS complaints or overturn NDIA or NDIS Commission decisions.

Parliament of Australia

Health Department updates NDIS integrity and safeguarding amendments page

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing updated its page summarising the Integrity and Safeguarding Act, including stronger NDIS Commission powers, administrative changes to NDIA operations, and greater whistleblower protections.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

NDIS Commission publishes new banning orders

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s compliance register lists multiple banning orders. This prohibits named people from providing or being involved in NDIS supports.

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

PWDA publishes NDIS Bill submission template

People with Disability Australia has published resources and a template to help people make submissions to the Senate inquiry into the NDIS Future Generations Bill. PWDA says the template is designed to help members and the disability community structure their views, experiences and concerns, and does not represent PWDA’s final position on the Bill.

People with Disability Australia

OTA flags sector uncertainty forum

Occupational Therapy Australia will hold a member forum on 28 May titled “Navigating Uncertainty, Professional Identity and Business Sustainability in Occupational Therapy”.

Occupational Therapy Australia

'Inhumane' NDIS home in Broome subject to allegations of neglect

ABC Kimberley reports former staff have made multiple allegations of neglect about a privately run NDIS group home in Broome, including overcrowding, missed medication and concerns about a child living at the premises. Following ABC questions, the NDIS watchdog is reviewing a complaint it had previously closed.

ABC News | Paywall: No

Duniam says Coalition won't support NDIS bill without CGT, negative gearing inquiry

Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam says the Coalition will not support the Government’s NDIS changes without an inquiry into capital gains tax and negative gearing changes. Shadow NDIS Minister Melissa McIntosh also says there is “no guarantee” the Coalition would support the NDIS overhaul legislation.

ABC News | Paywall: No

Melissa McIntosh warns Coalition giving ‘no guarantees’ on Labor’s NDIS bill

Opposition NDIS spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh says there are “no guarantees” the Coalition will support Labor’s NDIS Bill if problems emerge through the Senate inquiry. She is raising concerns about unfair plan cuts, the Government’s savings targets, fraud and possible amendments.

The Australian | Paywall: Yes

Savings for tomorrow spent today: NDIS cash lost in Labor’s budget blackhole

The Australian reports the Government’s projected NDIS savings over the forward estimates have effectively been offset by new spending, with economists warning economic strategy relies heavily on ambitious NDIS savings.

The Australian | Paywall: Yes

Budget tax changes struggle for voter support

The Australian Financial Review reports that proposed changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax and trust taxation are struggling for voter support. The item is relevant to the NDIS because the same tax fight has become entangled with Coalition support for the Government’s NDIS Bill.

Australian Financial Review | Paywall: Yes

Dapto mother's fight for daughter's NDIS supports in hospital

Illawarra Mercury reports on a Dapto mother’s fight for her daughter’s NDIS-funded supports while she is in hospital. Amarli Broome’s parents discovered she was not allowed her NDIS-funded carers after she went into hospital.

Illawarra Mercury | Paywall: Yes

Quinn Cook: NDIS participant's carers were concerned about care quality before teen's suicide

Gold Coast Bulletin reports on a coronial inquest examining the death of NDIS participant Quinn Cook. Carers were concerned about care quality before the teenager’s suicide.

Gold Coast Bulletin | Paywall: Yes

Kumanjayi White's family 'heartbroken' no charges laid against officers involved in death in police custody

ABC News reports the family of Kumanjayi White say they are heartbroken after NT Police told them no charges would be laid over his death in police custody. The report says White was a 24-year-old Warlpiri man with disabilities who died after being restrained by two police officers in an Alice Springs supermarket in May 2025.

ABC News | Paywall: No