A group of Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) have written to the Acting CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency to demand accountability, after news reports that the agency removed a person with disability from the NDIS in apparent retaliation for expressing their views about the scheme on social media.
People with disability, families, kin and organisations are appalled and outraged by the actions of the NDIA, which were reported in the Saturday Paper on 5 July 2025.
Last week, the group wrote to the Acting CEO of the NDIA seeking urgent clarification on a number of issues raised by the article.
The NDIA confirmed their actions, but did not provide the answers the group sought.
Instead, the group said the response from the NDIA asserted the legality and alignment of all actions with the NDIS Act.
In a statement, the group said it has “grave concerns that they confirmed an eligibility reassessment had been in part triggered by the individual’s social media content”.
DROs believe these actions have crossed a line and threaten any level of trust between the NDIA and the disability community, and that advice, opinions about, or criticisms of the NDIS or NDIA are entirely separate from an individual’s eligibility for the Scheme and vital need for supports, both in the law and the intent of the Scheme.
“People with disability who rely on NDIS supports must not be placed at risk or live in fear that they will be summarily removed from the Scheme for their advocacy, views or any arbitrary decision of senior NDIA staff. If there are concerns about whether a person with disability meets the eligibility criteria for the NDIS, this must be dealt with in accordance with procedural fairness and operational guidelines,” the statement reads.
“The NDIA, like all government agencies and departments, must act in the public interest, and in this case, in the interests of people with disability.”
The group is now calling for the following actions to take place:
- Establish an urgent, independent inquiry into the actions of the NDIA in this case, and potentially others, where the Agency has acted to remove people with disability from the NDIS without due process or fair treatment. The inquiry should be conducted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, in consultation with the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and be open to additional contributions from people with disability, families, kin and organisations. Anonymity and protection throughout any established inquiry is paramount.
- Release any and all legal advice that led to these actions.
- Hold an urgent roundtable between Disability Representative Organisations, the NDIA Acting CEO and senior staff, and NDIS Minister McAllister to discuss a way forward.
The following organisations have contributed to and/or expressed their support for this joint position statement:
- Australian Autism Alliance
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia
- Community Mental Health Australia
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia
- Down Syndrome Australia
- First Peoples Disability Network Australia
- Inclusion Australia
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance
- People with Disability Australia
- Physical Disability Australia
- Women With Disabilities Australia
The statement was developed by DROs with coordination support from Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA).