A bipartisan parliamentary committee has raised significant human rights concerns regarding the Albanese government’s proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), calling for greater clarity and justification on several aspects of the bill.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, which is tasked with ensuring legislation complies with human rights standards, issued a unanimous report criticizing elements of the NDIS reform package. Chaired by West Australian Labor MP Zaneta Mascarenhas, with Victorian Liberal MP Jason Wood serving as deputy chairman, the committee highlighted potential risks that the reforms could restrict the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities.

The bill, introduced to address the escalating financial demands of the NDIS, has drawn criticism not only from opposition parties and disability advocates but now also from within the Labor Party itself, ahead of its upcoming annual conference. The committee’s findings represent a particular challenge for the government as it seeks to balance budgetary sustainability with maintaining adequate support for NDIS participants.

Among the report’s key concerns is the explicit emphasis on financial sustainability as a primary objective of the NDIS reforms. The committee warned that this focus could lead to fewer approved supports and reduced funding for participants, potentially limiting their rights to an adequate standard of living and access to necessary health services. While acknowledging the legitimacy of targeting support towards individuals with significant and permanent disabilities, the committee questioned whether the proposed measures are effectively connected to this goal in practice.

The report also underscored issues with safeguards within the bill, noting a lack of sufficient flexibility to adequately accommodate individual circumstances of participants. The committee urged the government to provide more comprehensive explanations justifying the need for the proposed changes and their expected impact on people with disabilities.

This development follows a recent arrangement between the Albanese government and the Greens, allowing the minor party additional time to raise further concerns about the NDIS reforms amid ongoing debates surrounding the scheme’s future.

Separate from this human rights review, a Senate inquiry is also examining the bill. However, the committee’s authoritative assessment adds to the growing scrutiny faced by the government as it attempts to reconcile cost-control measures with the preservation of participant rights under the NDIS.