The federal government is facing calls from its own National Disability Insurance Scheme Reform Advisory Committee (RAC) to delay the July rollout of a major and contentious overhaul of how participant support plans are determined.
The advisory group, made up of disability representatives from across Australia, was established last year to guide the government through the most significant reforms in the scheme’s history.
Minutes from the RAC’s March meeting, released today, show the committee formally advised that the new planning model should not begin before October 1. The group warned that more time is needed for development, testing and meaningful public consultation, stressing that rushing the process risks “unintended consequences” for participants.
The proposed planning system is part of a broader suite of reforms introduced by the Albanese government to slow the rapid growth of the $50 billion NDIS. The timing of the committee’s warning is politically sensitive, coming just days before NDIS Minister Mark Butler is expected to outline further cost‑cutting measures in a major speech next week.
The pushback from the RAC underscores growing concern within the disability sector that the reforms are moving too quickly, without sufficient safeguards to protect participants who rely on the scheme for essential supports.
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