Bill
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026
passed, as at 2026-04-08. Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Health, Disability and Ageing
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2025-11-26
- second reading — 2025-11-26
- second reading — 2026-03-31
- second reading — 2026-03-31
- committee — 2026-03-31
- third reading — 2026-03-31
- introduced — 2026-03-31
- second reading — 2026-03-31
- second reading — 2026-03-31
- second reading — 2026-04-01
- second reading — 2026-04-01
- third reading — 2026-04-01
- passed — 2026-04-01
- royal assent — 2026-04-08
Divisions
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2026-03-31.11.1) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time"* (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). In other words, they voted to leave the usual second reading motion unchanged and not at the words below. ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that:* > >> *(a) the Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) have been unable to clearly quantify the scale of fraud within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS);* >> >> *(b) the NDIA Fraud Fusion Taskforce estimates that up to 10 per cent of NDIS claims are inappropriate, mischievous or outright criminal;* >> >> *(c) the Government must do more to prevent the fraud and rorting that is rife within the NDIS;* >> >> *(d) the changes in the bill will do little to remove bad actors from defrauding participants and taxpayers;* >> >> *(e) the changes in the bill provide no direct regulation or fraud controls for the 94 per cent of NDIS providers who are not registered; and* >> >> *(f) robust integrity systems are critical to not only protect taxpayer funds but also to protect NDIS participants from exploitation by unscrupulous providers".* — 2026-03-31, Senate: negative, ayes 28, noes 34
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2026-03-31.21.5) to keep part 3 of schedule 2 as it is (i.e., that the part should stand as printed). This vote was put after WA Senator [Jordon Steele-John](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/jordon_steele-john) (Greens) [proposed](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2026-03-31.21.1) that the part be opposed. ### What is Part 3 of Schedule 3 > *Part 3 — Plan variation* > > *National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013* > > *11 Before subsection 47A(1B)* > >> *Insert:* >> >> *Provisions to avoid doubt* > > *12 Before paragraph 47A(1B)(a)* > >> *Insert:* >> >>> *(aa) a variation of a total funding amount under subsection (1) may increase or decrease that total funding amount, unless either of the following expressly provides otherwise:* >>> >>>> *(i) this Act;* >>>> >>>> *(ii) the National Disability Insurance Scheme rules made for the purposes of another provision of this Act (including but not limited to paragraph (1)(b) of this section); and* — 2026-03-31, Senate: affirmative, ayes 30, noes 11
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fs1478_amend_0729ed86-9628-47dd-b53c-25559b467188%22;rec=0) introduced by the Greens party in respect to the definition of and use of the term NDIS supports, replacing it with the phrase "*reasonable and necessary supports*". This means the amendments were unsuccessful. — 2026-03-31, Senate: negative, ayes 12, noes 32
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2026-03-31.30.5) introduced by Victorian Senator [Lidia Thorpe](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/lidia_thorpe) (Independent), which means it failed. The amendment would have removed the requirement for wholly agency‑managed participant plans for people who have been convicted of criminal offences. ### Amendment text > *(1) Schedule 2, page 38 (after line 15), at the end of the Schedule, add:* > >> *Part 4 — Plan management* >> >> *National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013* >> >> *13 Subsection 43(2AA)* >> >>> *Repeal the subsection.* >> >> *14 Paragraph 43(3)(c)* >> >>> *Omit "or (aa)".* >> >> *15 Paragraph 43(6)(d)* >> >>> *Omit "or (aa)".* >> >> *16 Paragraph 43(7)(a)* >> >>> *Omit "(2AA),"* >> >> *17 Paragraphs 44(1)(aa) and (2A)(aa)* >> >>> *Repeal the paragraphs.* >> >> *National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024* >> >> *18 Paragraph 132(e) of Schedule 1* >> >>> *Omit "and".* >> >> *19 Paragraphs 132(f) and (g) of Schedule 1* >> >>> *Repeal the paragraphs.* — 2026-03-31, Senate: negative, ayes 13, noes 30
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2025-11-26.
The bill would increase penalties and expand safeguards in the National Disability Insurance Scheme to deter misconduct and improve service quality.
It would give the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner new powers to ban unsuitable providers, issue anti-promotion orders, and obtain information more quickly.
The government would allow plan variations to either raise or lower total funding, and require NDIA to handle provider claims only by electronic means.
- Strengthening the penalty framework for offences and poor-quality services.
- Adding categories of people who can be banned from providing NDIS services.
- Empowering the Commissioner to issue anti-promotion orders against harmful promotional conduct.
- Allowing the Commission to demand information within shorter timeframes.
- Providing extra safeguards and electronic claiming options for participants and providers.
- Ensuring plan variations may change total funding amounts up or down.
NDIS participants, providers, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Sources
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billhome
frl act