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Yesterday’s speech at the National Press Club condensed real warnings about the coming changes to the NDIS with a dramatic new proposal to make them work far better - for both the sector and the country.

Yesterday’s National Press Club saw a dramatic call event for an independent NDIS inspector-general and an appeal mechanism for automated decisions from Aruma chief executive Martin Laverty.

As the boss of one of the counrty’s largest not-for-profits, Laverty knows what conditions are like on the frontline. As someone involved with the scheme from its inception, he knows the disability sector. And as somebody close to government, Laverty understands the policy space.

The idea is good, because it’s a way of smoothing the implementation of the new scheme. Something like this will, eventually, be necessary and it’s difficult to see why a government that wants to make a success of these changes didn’t immediately embrace it.

People with Disability Australia acting chief executive Megan Spindler-Smith insists the Bill should be rejected. What was new about her call was a solid economic basis for the call. A paper prepared by the Australia Institute shows how the cuts will not just hit the marginalised, they will increase unemployment just in time for the coming election.

Women with Disabilities Australia chief executive Sophie Cusworth warns cutting supports before alternatives exist would push more unpaid care onto women and could make women escaping violence harder to reach.

Today these speeches are just warnings. The political difficulty for the government is that soon - just before the next election, to be precise - they will be proved real.

Just speaking politically, it doesn’t seem very sensible to be attacking your base when you’re running for office.

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NDIS Bill moves towards passage, but the safeguards argument is not settled

The political contest over the NDIS Bill has narrowed. Labor and the Coalition have agreed to move the changes through the Senate. Last week abilityNEWS indicated the Bill would pass with Coalition support. Last night Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC Radio National the government wants the legislation passed this sitting fortnight.

The Senate committee will report on Friday. Final amendments - if any - are important.

Butler initially rejected the call for an inspector-general. This makes the government look strong but leaves a clear accountability gap. There are now real questions about who will shoulder the blame when the new scheme begins to fall apart. Critically for his future ambitions, Butler cannot say he was not warned.

The government’s newly updated implementation timeline makes the practical stakes clearer. Consultations run until October. Thriving Kids is scheduled to begin phasing in from 1 October. From 1 February 2027, unspent plan funding would no longer roll over when a plan ends; new framework planning is scheduled to start from 1 April 2027.

Data Watch: Government modelling provided to the Senate inquiry estimated that 240,000 current participants would leave the NDIS and 110,000 prospective entrants would be diverted by 2031. This means a scheme of 600,000 people, rather than 940,000.

It also explains why the government’s shorthand of 160,000 fewer participants than today does not describe the full movement in and out of the scheme.

Government publishes the timetable for major NDIS changes

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has set out proposed implementation dates for planning, eligibility, pricing, supported independent living and Thriving Kids reforms.

Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | official implementation timeline

Butler wants the NDIS Bill passed during this sitting fortnight

Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC Radio National Thriving Kids would start in October and be fully operating by 1 January 2028. Butler rejected claims that families would be left without support and said he remained unconvinced about an inspector-general.

Source: Health Minister Mark Butler | official interview transcript

NDIS introduces extra identity checks for participant information

The NDIA has introduced one-time codes and additional identity questions when people contact the agency or receive a call from it. Participants are advised to keep their mobile number and email address current. The measure is intended to reduce unauthorised access to personal information.

Source: National Disability Insurance Agency | participant security update

Regulator revokes three NDIS provider registrations

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission revoked the registrations of Chanelles Helping Hands Recruitment in Western Australia, Nur & Associates in the ACT and Wycombe Services, trading as Our Medical, in New South Wales.

Sources: Chanelles Helping Hands Recruitment, Nur & Associates and Wycombe Services | NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission decisions

PWDA tells Parliament to reject the NDIS Bill and start again

People with Disability Australia’s Megan Spindler-Smith argues that administrative, market and safeguarding failures should be fixed without reducing participant supports. PWDA called on Parliament to reject the current Bill rather than amend it at the margins.

Sources: People with Disability Australia — National Press Club address and PWDA media release | disability rights and advocacy organisation

Fellowships open for early-career researchers with disability

The National Disability Research Partnership has opened applications for about six two-year Disability Research Leadership Program fellowships. Eligible postdoctoral researchers with disability can receive a $110,000 annual salary contribution and up to $60,000 for research and professional development. Applications close at 5pm AEST on 21 September, with information sessions on 11 and 12 August.

Source: National Disability Research Partnership | fellowship program

Carers urged to identify unpaid care in tonight’s Census

Carers Australia is asking family and friend carers to answer yes to the Census question about unpaid care, including people who receive Carer Payment or Carer Allowance. It says undercounting affects service planning, program design, funding and advocacy. The organisation notes that the previous Census recorded three million unpaid carers.

Source: Carers Australia — Medianet distribution copy | Syndicated media release

Aruma CEO calls for watchdog as NDIS reforms set to pass parliament

The Australian reports on Laverty’s call for an appeal process for automated decisions and competing warnings from Megan Spindler-Smith and Sophie Cusworth.

Source: The Australian | Paywall: Yes

PM&C won’t identify budget measures subject to gender impact assessments

The Mandarin reports the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will not say which 2026–27 Budget measures underwent gender impact assessment. Greens leader Larissa Waters specifically sought information about the NDIS.

Source: The Mandarin | Paywall: Yes

NDIS leaders call for safeguards as parliament debates reform bill

AUDIO: ABC Radio National Breakfast interviews Aruma chief executive Martin Laverty, who says reform is necessary but argues for an independent inspector-general and stronger safeguards around the scheme’s governance.

Source: ABC Radio National | Paywall: No

Disability advocates call for watchdog and warn of 'significant impacts' as reforms loom

PODCAST: SBS brings together the watchdog proposal, Butler’s response and Sophie Cusworth’s warning about women with disability escaping violence. It reports that reduced supports could make some women harder to reach and shift unpaid care.

Source: SBS News | Paywall: No

‘Back to work’: Labor to lock in gambling, NDIS changes

AAP reports that Labor and the Coalition have agreed to move the NDIS changes through the Senate. Disability groups continue to warn the changes could cost lives, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flags further reform.

Source: Michael West Media | Paywall: No

Labor rejects call for more NDIS oversight, nears Coalition deal

The Australian Financial Review reports Labor’s confident it has Senate support for the Bill while rejecting the proposed inspector-general.

Source: Australian Financial Review | Paywall: Yes