Speech from the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) about changes to the NDIS

WHAT IS HAPPENING? ‍

• The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) gave a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra on 22 April 2026. 
• In his speech Minister Butler announced a number of changes which aim to reduce government spending under the NDIS. 
• A full version of his speech with Auslan interpretation can be found on ABC News’ YouTube channel here. A copy of Minister Butler’s media release, also released on 22 April 2026, can be found here.

WHAT WE KNOW

Minister Butler indicated that in the future the government will focus on: 

• Reducing the number of participants accessing the NDIS (at the moment there are about 760,000 people in the NDIS- by then end of 2030 the Australian Governments expects there will be about 600,000);
• Reducing future spending on the NDIS overall;
• Reducing spending on social and community participation and capacity building under the NDIS; 
• Participants’ functional capacity (i.e. a person’s ability to perform certain tasks and activities) under the NDIS rather than participants’ diagnoses;
• Supports outside of the NDIS such as Thriving Kids and Foundational Supports; 
• Establishing a $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund outside of the NDIS to support community-based programs and social inclusion;
• Reducing the number of unscheduled plan re-assessments, except in exceptional circumstances;
• Delaying new NDIS framework planning until 1 April 2027;
• Changes to registration requirements for NDIS providers;
• Regulations, system controls and measures to ensure compliance with NDIS rules.

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

The Australian Government has not yet provided full details about all future changes and there is still a lot we don’t know. This uncertainty is being experienced by many people and will persist until the Australian Government releases more information. If you feel you would benefit from some support during this time please refer to ‘Need Some Support?’ below.

DEAF AUSTRALIA’S CONCERNS

Deaf Australia is concerned about the effect of these changes on NDIS participants in the Deaf Community, particularly with regards to reduced spending on supports for social and community participation and capacity building. We are also concerned about the government’s focus on participants’ functional capacity (i.e. a person’s ability to perform certain tasks and activities) under the NDIS rather than participants’ diagnoses (such as D/deaf or hard of hearing).

WHAT IS DEAF AUSTRALIA DOING?

Deaf Australia supports the Every Australian Counts Campaign which is working collaboratively with disability organisations and the general public to advocate against the changes.

Deaf Australia, as a Disability Representative and Carer Organisation (DRCO), is also continuing to tirelessly advocate and make representations directly to the Australian Government on behalf of its members and the Deaf Community. We want to ensure that governments are aware of the impact of these changes on the Deaf Community and the importance of supporting D/deaf and hard of hearing Auslan users into the future.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you have any questions about your specific NDIS plan, please contact the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) direct. 

However, if you have any general feedback about the changes which Minister Butler has announced, please feel free to share your thoughts with Deaf Australia. This will help Deaf Australia to advocate on behalf of its members and the Deaf Community. You can send Deaf Australia a message in either Auslan or English at https://www.deafaustralia.org.au/contact.

NEED SOME SUPPORT?  

If you or someone you know is impacted and needs mental health support, we encourage you to access deaf-aware psychologists and counsellors and share it within your networks.

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Video provided in this page is translated content of this news update, for English please refer to this text.