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The Senate inquiry exposed deep anger over the NDIS reform bill but failed to produce a retreat by government. Demands for specific amendments have been lost in the clamour and noise of the bigger protest.

The Senate inquiry into the NDIS reform bill has done what it was designed to do: let the anger out.

People with disability, families, advocates, providers, lawyers and state governments used the last three days to explain the same thing in different words. The bill is too broad; the timetable is too fast. The ministerial powers are too large; the promised supports don’t exist.

The federal government insists it needs the money now and just wants the bill passed through Parliament before it rises for the winter. The committee reports on Tuesday. Numbers, not the evidence, will decide what happens next.

This makes the real issue specific amendments, not outrage or pleas for consultation.

The inquiry has isolated the pressure points: delaying commencement dates until supports are in place, narrowing the minister’s budget-cutting powers, doing more with the states, and stopping automated decisions.

Now the fight moves to the floor of parliament.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

State and territory disability ministers are now publicly challenging the Commonwealth bill, warning they cannot deliver equivalent services for people shifted off the NDIS.

At the same time Victoria has already begun, showing what the replacement pathway for Thriving Kids could look like, with developmental checks beginning in October.

Why this matters: The reform argument is moving to what’s happening on the ground. States say alternative systems don’t yet exist - Canberra will demand that they do.

Bottom line: The committee will present its report on 16 June, when the argument shifts from evidence to amendments and, most crucially, the numbers. Everything now depends on Angus Taylor.

GovInfo — what governments are doing

Senate committee holds final hearing on NDIS reform bill

The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee listed its third public hearing on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 in Canberra on 11 June, with the inquiry report due on 16 June.

Parliament of Australia

Victoria announces first Thriving Kids rollout from October

The Victorian Government says Thriving Kids will launch in Victoria from October, with two new developmental assessments available for every child before kinder and before school, and clinicians and allied health professionals connecting families to support.

Premier of Victoria

PWDA tells Senate inquiry NDIS bill should not proceed in current form

People with Disability Australia says its evidence to the Senate inquiry warned the bill poses significant risks to people with disability, is moving ahead before impacts are properly understood, and reflects “cut first, design later” reform.

People with Disability Australia

Women with disability warned to face greater isolation and harm under NDIS changes

Medical Republic reported evidence to the Senate inquiry that women and gender-diverse people with disability may face increased isolation, unpaid care, poverty and exposure to harm if proposed NDIS changes proceed before alternative supports are designed.

Medical Republic

AHPA submission remains important background for allied-health effects of the bill

Allied Health Professions Australia’s submission, published earlier in June, argues the bill would give broad powers to government, narrow eligibility, reduce access to supports and weaken participant safeguards, making it useful background for any follow-up on therapy and assessment impacts.

Allied Health Professions Australia

State and territory disability ministers lash federal government's NDIS changes

State and territory disability ministers accused the Albanese Government of pressing ahead with NDIS changes that do not align with previous national cabinet agreements, warning the pace of the overhaul risks the safety of people with disability.

ABC News | Paywall: No

We can’t deliver ‘like-for-like-services’ for people kicked off the NDIS, states warn Albanese government

Guardian Australia reported that states and territories warned they could not provide equivalent services for people shifted off the NDIS and criticised unilateral Commonwealth powers, weak consultation and the risk of cost-shifting into health, education and justice systems.

Guardian Australia | Paywall: No

‘Significant risk’: Disability ministers defy Butler’s NDIS overhaul

Disability ministers across the political divide are uniting to defy the Albanese government’s radical overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with all states and territories warning draft laws risk “undermining the original intent” of Julia Gillard’s landmark reform.

TheAge | Paywall: likely

States, territories warn the commonwealth ‘no agreement’ ahead of NDIS cuts

News.com.au reported state and territory ministers had told the Senate inquiry there was no agreement to fund foundational supports such as Thriving Kids in the way the Commonwealth’s bill assumes, and raised concerns about ministerial powers and scheme governance.

news.com.au | Paywall: No

NDIS deal under threat from states attacking Albanese, Butler

The Australian reported that states and territories had attacked Labor’s NDIS cuts plan, warning the bill was not the deal their governments had signed up for.

The Australian | Paywall: Yes

NDIS reforms face backlash as Martin Laverty warns disability reassessments are unnecessary

The Nightly reported backlash to the NDIS reforms, including criticism from former NDIS chief Martin Laverty that reassessments were unnecessary.

The Nightly | Paywall: unclear

The Greens to continue to oppose cuts to the NDIS

SBS reported the Greens would continue opposing cuts to the NDIS as the government’s reform bill faced scrutiny.

SBS News | Paywall: No

NDIS looks at impact of reforms for people with psychosocial disability | Evening News Bulletin 11 June 2026

SBS’s evening bulletin flagged the impact of NDIS reforms on people with psychosocial disability, keeping the psychosocial disability interface in the public frame during the inquiry week.

SBS News | Paywall: No

Extra maternal and child health nurse visits for children in Victoria as part of Thriving Kids

ABC reported Victoria would offer additional child development checks through Thriving Kids, aimed at children aged eight and under with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism who are expected to be shifted away from the NDIS pathway.

ABC News | Paywall: No

Victoria: Thriving Kids program to offer autism, developmental delay screenings as state’s NDIS alternative

The Nightly reported Victoria’s Thriving Kids program will offer screenings for three- and four-year-olds as a state-run alternative pathway for children with autism and developmental delay.

The Nightly | Paywall: unclear