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In Perth, the Senate is holding hearings into the new NDIS legislation, while the NDS Conference at Pyrmont in Sydney heard from Minister Tanya Plibersek yesterday, and continues today.

The Federal Government has given disability employment providers one firm assurance while the human rights case for pausing its wider NDIS Bill has strengthened.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek told the NDS Disability at Work Conference that supported-employment funding would not be affected by changes to Social, Civic and Community Participation supports. She also announced two $2.5 million investments through the Centre for Inclusive Employment: one to help providers modernise, and another to trial an Australian customised-employment model for people with the highest support needs.

The detail matters. A provider-transformation pilot helped three organisations create 30 open-employment jobs and lift earnings for 98 participants. The expanded program will take another six providers. The customised-employment trial is intended to test both outcomes and the real cost of intensive support.

Meanwhile, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the Government to halt the NDIS Bill until concerns about process, accountability and human rights are addressed. Commission president Hugh de Kretser and seven commissioners jointly pointed to broad ministerial powers, reduced accountability, no formal response to the NDIS Review and no meaningful participation by people with disability in designing the reforms.

Their warning is particularly direct on automated decision-making. The Commission says automation is being introduced without the legislative framework recommended by the Robodebt Royal Commission. It also identifies the absence of a gender impact analysis and the risk that reduced NDIS supports will shift pressure to hospitals and schools.

People with Disability Australia has added a practical amendment test. Its supplementary Senate inquiry paper seeks continuity of support, parliamentary oversight of eligibility and funding rules, removal of the requirement to “exhaust all treatments”, and a prohibition on automated decision-making. PWDA says accessible, funded and operating alternatives must exist before people lose NDIS support.

The Government’s employment assurance resolves one immediate uncertainty. It does not answer the Bill-wide questions about review rights, human oversight and where responsibility will sit when NDIS support is withdrawn.

Bottom line: Implementation announcements can improve employment services, but they cannot substitute for safeguards in the legislation that will decide who receives support and how those decisions are made.

Data Watch: Inclusive Employment Australia now supports more than 250,000 participants through 81 providers at more than 3,200 sites, according to the Minister. The new announcements comprise two separate $2.5 million investments.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says supported-employment funding will not be affected by changes to Social, Civic and Community Participation supports. She announced $2.5 million to help supported-employment providers modernise, including an intensive program for six more providers, and a separate $2.5 million trial of an Australian customised-employment model for people with the highest support needs.

Source: Department of Social Services ministers — Speech to NDS Disability at Work Conference

The Australian Human Rights Commission says the NDIS Bill should be delayed until human rights concerns about process, accountability and impact are addressed. Its president and seven commissioners cite broad ministerial powers, reduced accountability, automated decisions without a legislative framework, no formal government response to the NDIS Review, no gender impact analysis and inadequate involvement of people with disability.

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

People with Disability Australia has supplemented its Senate inquiry submission with four proposed amendments: preserve continuity of support, require parliamentary oversight of eligibility and funding rules, remove the “exhaust all treatments” requirement and prohibit automated decision-making. PWDA says the paper does not replace its original 44 recommendations and that people should not lose NDIS support before accessible, funded and operating alternatives are available.

Source: People with Disability Australia

Deaf Connect offers casual and accredited Auslan courses in Sydney and across NSW, delivered by Deaf tutors face-to-face and online. Its self-paced Sign Online course includes more than 14 hours of videos and quizzes. The organisation also provides courses for Deaf adults and Auslan users, Deaf Awareness Training for businesses and private tutoring for families with Deaf children.

Source: Deaf Connect

The NDIA is seeking adult participants and authorised nominees to test its New Way of Planning before the planned April 2027 rollout. The voluntary session includes a simulated support-needs assessment and feedback on assessor training. Participants will receive $200, with reasonable participation supports funded. The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations says participation will not affect a person’s plan, funding, eligibility or supports. Originally published 4 August 2026.

Source: Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

The Australian Financial Review reports the Government’s NDIS changes are expected to clear Parliament, while the promised legislative repair to the so-called “widow tax” remains outstanding. Banks have reportedly been told to treat that tax problem as resolved when making lending decisions before the legislation has passed. Summary based on visible public preview only.

Source: Australian Financial Review
Paywall: Yes

The Cairns Post reports that Leichhardt participants use 67 per cent of approved NDIS funding, compared with 55 per cent across Queensland and nationally. Kismet Care Index data nevertheless ranks the electorate 119th for service gaps, with an average wait of 5.4 days, and shows greater provider concentration than the national figure. Summary based on the visible article preview.

Source: Cairns Post | Paywall: Yes

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports Kristy Lutter pleaded guilty to fraud totalling $193,064 after lodging 169 false NDIS invoices, mostly for lawn care. The Toowoomba District Court imposed a five-year sentence, wholly suspended for five years. The judge cited her remorse, lack of previous convictions, health and caring circumstances. The court heard nothing about repayment. Summary based on visible public preview only.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin
Paywall: Yes