A parliamentary inquiry into the integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has heard disturbing allegations, including a case where a support worker secretly cut keys to a deafblind participant’s home without their knowledge.
The revelation was among a series of concerns raised during the hearing, which examined the performance of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (QSC), provider conduct, and whistleblower protections.
Advocacy groups told the committee that many people with disability avoid reporting misconduct because they see the watchdog as a “toothless tiger” incapable of meaningful action.
Deafblind Australia delivered some of the most confronting testimony, saying participants frequently reported “feeling like an ATM,” with some providers appearing more focused on retaining the largest possible share of a participant’s plan than helping them achieve their goals. The organisation said the case of the support worker cutting keys without consent was not an isolated concern but part of a broader pattern of mistrust.
Ben McAtamney, speaking on behalf of the group, told the inquiry that many deafblind participants simply do not “see a point” in lodging formal complaints. The lack of confidence in the system, he said, leaves vulnerable people exposed to misconduct that often goes unreported and unaddressed.
The inquiry continues as lawmakers weigh potential reforms to strengthen oversight, rebuild trust and ensure the NDIS delivers the safety, dignity and support it was designed to provide.
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