Media Release 22 April 2026 - NDIS cuts send shockwaves through the disability community

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services
Shadow Minister for the NDIS
Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay

Henry Pike MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health
Federal Member for Bowman

NDIS cuts send shockwaves through the disability community
22 April 2026

Today, the Albanese Government has dropped a bomb on the disability community, announcing savage cuts
and functional assessments for all 761,000 people who receive support through the NDIS.

In a desperate attempt to fix the economic blackhole created by the Governments excessive spending, Health
Minister Mark Butler today announced sweeping cuts to NDIS plans and eligibility.

Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Melissa McIntosh MP said “Minister Butler has spread fear and anxiety right
across the disability community today. Rather than targeting the fraud and rorting that has infiltrated the
scheme, the Albanese Labor Government has decided to target people with disability to find their Budget
saves.

“Exactly how bad is Australia’s budget that the only solution left is to go after our most vulnerable Australians?

“Right now 761,000 people with disability who receive supports through the NDIS are worried about being
reassessed for eligibility to get vital and often life-saving supports.

“There is no doubt that the cuts are coming. This is now the third growth target the Government has set in as
many years, and not once have we seen a workable plan on how they will achieve these reductions – 8 per
cent, down to 5 per cent and now down to just 2 per cent.

“The Coalition supports sensible reforms to stop the fraud, rorts and waste in the NDIS and we will work with
the Government on legislation to tackle this.

“Provider registration and a digital payments platform are a good start, but more will need to be done to
ensure criminals and bad actors can’t take advantage of our most vulnerable Australians.”

Shadow Assistant Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Henry Pike MP said
“There are more questions than answers after the Minister’s speech today. A lot of announcements were
made, but very little detail was given on how it will all be delivered”

“As always, it’s the details that matter to ensure people don’t fall through the cracks when changes to the
scheme are made.”

“Without clear detail, there’s a real risk these changes will create confusion and uncertainty for the very
people the scheme is meant to support.”

ENDS

McIntosh Media | 0436 940 943
Pike Media | 0422 604 111