Protests gather pace as NDIS cuts loom
In the wake of proposed cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), people with disability, allies and families protested government plans that will make it harder for NDIS participants to qualify for services.
An estimated 240,000 NDIS participants, according to government modelling, are expected to be removed from the scheme as a result of the multi-billion-dollar cut.
Over 100 people gathered at City Square in Melbourne's CBD on 1 August as part of a nationwide protest organised by Protect Our NDIS Alliance.
One of the rally’s guest speakers, Sam Petersen, an accomplished visual artist, writer, performer and Augmented and Alternative Communication (ACC) user, shared their experience with congregative care, a form of treatment offered to those who require 24-hour care, provided through the NDIS.
Petersen detailed the importance of good support workers, particularly for people like Sam, who will be vulnerable when their needs for care aren’t met.
“Leaving me on the toilet and after my shower for hours, or not taking me to the toilet when I needed to go. Denying me my speech device so I couldn't tell them to stop or that they were doing something wrong, dressing me quickly and clumsily, pulling my catheter,” Petersen recountded over their former support.
“So many ways.”
“This beautiful body. Has been violated. Day after day. Moment to moment.”
Petersen warned the NDIS cuts could potentially tear apart this much needed support network.
“I have built up a great team of support workers from my community, and time to do everything in my life, without abuse, with the funding of the NDIS. But all these lovely support workers, who I know and trust, could be taken away,” Petersen said.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing argues the cuts are needed to slow rising costs and fight fraud, through setting clearer requirements for those eligible for NDIS funding.
According to the 2026 Federal Budget, “The reforms in this Budget will protect that original intent for current and future participants.”
These proposed NDIS cuts are estimated to save a total of $37.8 billion over the next four years.
Along with hearing from those directly affected by the Albanese Government’s proposed bill, comparisons were made at the rally, by way of signs and speeches, to the cost of the AUKUS defence treaty.
The AUKUS defence treaty is a security pack signed in 2021 between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which is estimated to cost up to $368 billion dollars.
The Social Alliance Party held a strong presence at the rally, with representatives from South Barwon and Bellarine there to support NDIS participants opposing the Labour Party’s decision to cut NDIS funding.
“If you want to save money, don’t spend $268 billion on a bloody submarine,” Social Alliance candidate for South Barwon, Freya Hedley said.
Despite the federal government's claims the cuts will improve the lives of Australians with disabilities, South Alliance candidate for Bellarine, Dom Williams, said the fallout of this bill will only hurt people living with disability who rely on NDIS funding.
Williams said restricting Australians from accessing NDIS funding will also impact those that rely on the NDIS for employment.
“It's an attack on something that is critical, especially in regional Australia. It’s a major employer of young people, it’s a major employer of women,” Williams said.
Williams, an NDIS recipient, outlined the instrumental role the NDIS plays in his life.
“I think the NDIS makes people independent. I have a job, I’m quite independent. I would not have that if it wasn’t for the NDIS,” Williams said.
“The NDIS allows disabled people to access support to go shopping, to live independently, to get employment. All of these opportunities become far harder; it allows us to contribute far more than if we lack those supports.”
