The NDIS and the Federal Election

It’s our favourite time of the election cycle. But we notice there hasn’t been a lot of talk about the NDIS during the election campaign. So, we’ve put together a summary of the policy platforms relating to the NDIS (or lack thereof), because we believe that disability policy should be front and centre of any election campaign.

We’re presenting these policies without judgment (despite both being keen political observers), so that people can make their own informed decision about who to vote for.

Australian Labor Party

To date, the current Albanese government hasn’t announced any new NDIS policies during the campaign. The government hasn’t yet released a formal response to the 10 Year Review.

With the LNP’s support, Labor passed the NDIS Amendment (Getting the Back on Track Bill no 1) Bill 2024 last year. To learn more about the new NDIS Act, and what it means for the sector, a good starting place would be this article: New NDIS Act timeline of changes. In April 2023, the Labor government, along with state and territory governments, agreed to limit NDIS growth to 8% per annum.

At a People with Disability Australia (PWDA) Federal Election forum, NDIS Minister Amanda Risworth also committed to:

1. Continuing to implement recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission, including changes to the Disability Discrimination Act. The government accepted in full 13 of the 222 recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission, and accepted in principle 117. Read more: The government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission.
2. Implementing foundational supports in conjunction with state and territory governments.
3. Strengthening co-design and co-governance when developing and amending disability policy.
4. Embedding disability inclusion across other policy areas, such as housing, employment and education.
5. Sustainably reforming the NDIS.
6. Building a stronger social safety net and continuing social policy reform.

Liberal National Party

In 2023, the Opposition led Peter Dutton of LNP supported Labor to pass the Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill.

The LNP website Our Plan to Get Australia Back on Track, says the LNP’s policies are:

1. Guaranteeing NDIS funding to support those with permanent and significant disabilities.
2. Providing practical support to help those living with a disability overcome barriers and enable them to find and keep employment.
3. Eradicating fraud and waste from the NDIS to deliver value for taxpayer dollars.

On ABC’s Insiders during the campaign, Shadow Minister for the NDIS Michael Sukkar provided further detail of the LNP’s approach to the NDIS. This included:

1. A commitment to not making the NDIS a “political football”.
2. Asking the states to “step up” to contribute to foundational supports. He also said the Commonwealth should require “minimum standards” on foundational supports.
3. The LNP wants to keep the 8% growth target.
4. Continue the current government’s focus on preventing fraud and waste in the Scheme.
5. Not to throw people off the Scheme before foundational supports are set up, including young people with ASD, so they can receive ‘appropriate support.’

The Greens

The Greens didn’t support the Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill.

The Greens NDIS policies, which they are taking to the 2025 election, include:

1. Gradually raising the NDIS age cap.
2. Investing $400 million into the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
3. Restoring sexual support to the NDIS.
4. Providing $1.6bn in funding for people with psychosocial disabilities to transition to foundational support. This will be made up of a payment twice a year of $2,500.
5. Reversing budget cuts.
6. And funding a $2m review to improve accessibility and establish a national standard for support in custodial settings.

The Greens also have a Disability Rights and Services page that lists 24 principles and 52 aims. Some of them include:

• Promoting disabled leadership.
• Guaranteed livable income for disabled people and carers.
• Strengthening anti-discrimination laws.
• Forming a redress and complaints scheme for disabled survivors of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Independents/other minor parties

We know there are many other candidates from a variety of smaller parties and independents. If we were to list all of their policies, you’d still be reading this article by the 2028 election! If you have a candidate you love, we encourage you to research their NDIS policies or reach out to them.

Conclusion

By highlighting these policies, we hope this encourages people with disability - whatever your political persuasion - to become candidates. In the meantime, happy voting. We hope you enjoy your (vegan or otherwise) democracy sausage.

Voting accessibility/AEC info

There are a range of resources available on the Australian Electoral Commission's website about accessible ways to vote, across a range of disabilities. These include how to access polling places. Aruma’s Human Rights Advisory Committee have also created a resource called Your Vote Matters.

Disability Campaigns

Many of the disability peak bodies have developed election platforms. We encourage you to check them out:

• People With Disability Australia 2025 Federal Election Hub
• Women with Disability Australia 2025 Election Platform
• First Peoples Disability Network media release
• National Disability Services Priorities for the Federal Election
• Purple Orange 2025 Federal Election: Party Commitments
• Every Australian Counts Where the Parties Stand on the Future of the NDIS
• Inclusion Australia Federal Election 2025: What it means for people with disability
• Centre for Intellectual Disability Our Health Still Counts
• Children and Young People with Disability Australia: Election Platform