KEY FACTS, SENATOR KOVACIC’S NDIS BILL SPEECH
- Senator Maria Kovacic addressed the Senate on the NDIS Bill, referencing evidence given by people with disability, families and advocates at parliamentary hearings
“I challenge anybody that sat through any of those hearings to not be affected by that evidence.”
“Disabled Australians are paying the price for the failures of this government in relation
to the NDIS.”
- Speech shared publicly by Dr George Taleporos, Chair of Every Australian Counts
Kinship Uniting Services, registered NDIS provider NDIS ID, 4-GWVHCEY, 0437 733 744
This week, Senator Maria Kovacic stood in the Senate and addressed the NDIS Bill directly, drawing on the testimony given by people with disability, families and advocates at the parliamentary hearings examining the legislation.
Her speech was shared publicly by Dr George Taleporos, Chair of Every Australian Counts, and it deserves a wider audience than it has reached so far.
What She Said
Senator Kovacic referenced the hearings that have taken evidence from disability advocates, participants and families over recent months. She challenged anyone present to remain unaffected by what they heard.
“I challenge anybody that sat through any of those hearings to not be affected by that evidence.”
She went on to ask a question that sits at the centre of every parliamentary process involving legislation that directly affects a community.
“Why are we here if we are not going to hear the voices of Australians who are directly impacted?”
She then made a statement that has stayed with many people in the disability sector since.
“Disabled Australians are paying the price for the failures of this government in relation to the NDIS.”
She continued, asking why it is disabled Australians specifically who are being asked to carry the burden of fixing a system that was not designed or managed by them.
“Why is it that disabled Australians are the ones that will be carrying the burden of this?”
Why This Matters Beyond One Speech
Senator Kovacic’s speech reflects something that disability advocates have been saying consistently throughout the NDIS Bill process. The concern is not confusion about what the Bill contains. It is a clear, informed understanding of what it means.
People with disability and their families are not afraid of this Bill because they misunderstand it. They are afraid because they understand it completely. They understand what happens when a government gives itself sweeping powers over funding decisions, reduces transparency around how those decisions are made, and treats individual support needs as a budget line rather than a matter of basic rights.
There is no disagreement, including from within the disability sector itself, that the NDIS needs to be financially sustainable. The scheme has grown significantly and questions about its long term funding model are legitimate and necessary.
But sustainability and dignity should never have been positioned as competing priorities. A system can be made more sustainable without reducing transparency, without removing scrutiny, and without placing the heaviest burden on the people who already carry the most.
What Disability Advocates Are Calling For
The consistent message from advocates, echoed in Senator Kovacic’s speech, centres on four requirements before this Bill proceeds further.
Transparency about how decisions under the Bill would actually be made.
Detail about the practical implementation of proposed changes, not broad principles.
Genuine scrutiny through the full parliamentary process, including Senate review.
And, most significantly, genuine codesign with people with disability, rather than consultation that occurs after key decisions have already been made.
What This Means for Kinship Uniting Services and Our Participants
We are a registered NDIS provider supporting participants and families across Western Sydney. We do not have a formal position on every clause of this Bill. What we do have is direct, weekly contact with the people this legislation will affect.
What we hear from families is consistent with what Senator Kovacic described in her speech. Not confusion. Clarity. A clear-eyed understanding of what is at stake, paired with genuine fear about what could be lost.
We will continue to share information about this Bill as it moves through Parliament, and we encourage every participant and family we work with to follow the process closely and make their voice heard where they are able to.
We serve NDIS participants across Colebee, Blacktown, The Ponds, Marsden Park, Schofields, Quakers Hill, Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Stanhope Gardens, Riverstone, Windsor and all Sydney suburbs.
📞 0437 733 744
🌐 kinshipunitingservices.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Senator Maria Kovacic?
Maria Kovacic is an Australian senator who addressed the Senate on the NDIS Bill, drawing on evidence given at parliamentary hearings by people with disability, families and advocates. Her speech was shared publicly by Dr George Taleporos, Chair of Every Australian Counts.
What is the NDIS Bill currently before Parliament?
There is ongoing legislative activity affecting the NDIS, including proposed changes to funding categories, provider registration requirements and the Minister’s powers over pricing and budgets. The Bill remains under Senate review. Participants and families can follow its progress at aph.gov.au and ndis.gov.au.
Why are disability advocates concerned about the NDIS Bill?
Advocates have consistently raised concerns about transparency in how decisions under the Bill would be made, the level of detail provided about implementation, the extent of parliamentary scrutiny, and the absence of genuine codesign with people with disability in shaping the legislation.
How can I follow updates on the NDIS Bill?
Follow the National Disability Insurance Agency at ndis.gov.au, the Parliament of Australia at aph.gov.au, and disability advocacy organisations including Every Australian Counts for ongoing updates as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
How does Kinship Uniting Services support participants navigating NDIS policy changes?
We help participants and families understand how current and proposed changes affect their specific plan, and we keep our community informed as legislation progresses. Call 0437 733 744 to discuss your situation.
Written by Aishah Shah
Care Coordinator, Kinship Uniting Services
Registered NDIS Provider, ID, 4-GWVHCEY, ABN, 91 677 788 475
Sources:
Senator Maria Kovacic, Senate speech on the NDIS Bill, shared publicly by Dr George Taleporos, Chair of Every Australian Counts, June 2026
Parliament of Australia, aph.gov.au
National Disability Insurance Agency, ndis.gov.au
📞 0437 733 744
info@kinshipunitingservices.com
🌐 kinshipunitingservices.com
📍 39 Victory Rd, Colebee NSW 2761, NDIS Registration, 4-GWVHCEY
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