National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Mr BUTLER (Hindmarsh—Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for Health and Ageing and Deputy Leader of the House) (17:30): by leave—I move: (7) Schedule 2, item 91, page 81 (lines 8 to 16), omit the definition of related party in section 9, substitute: related party has the meaning given by subsection 73EA(2A). (8) Schedule 2, item 93, page 81 (lines 23 and 24), omit ", or a related party of a person registered or applying to be registered,".

(9) Schedule 2, item 95, page 82 (lines 5 and 6), omit ", or is a related party of another person that is". (10) Schedule 2, item 95, page 82 (lines 11 and 12), omit ", or is a related party of another person that is". (11) Schedule 2, item 97, page 83 (line 7), after "person", insert "and key personnel of the person".

(12) Schedule 2, item 97, page 83 (after line 8), after subsection 73EA(2), insert: (2A) A person is a related party of another person in any of the following circumstances: (a) the person is a relative of the other person (within the meaning of section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001); (b) either person is an associated entity of the other person (within the meaning of section 50AAA of the Corporations Act 2001); (c) circumstances prescribed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme Rules for the purposes of this paragraph.

(13) Schedule 2, item 98, page 83 (lines 22 to 25), omit paragraph 73F(2)(j). (14) Schedule 2, item 98, page 83 (line 26), omit "(k)", substitute "; (j)". (15) Schedule 2, item 98, page 83 (line 27), omit "and any related party of the person".

(16) Schedule 2, item 100, page 84 (line 4), omit "section 9", substitute "subsection 73EA(2A)". (17) Schedule 2, item 101, page 84 (line 31), omit "paragraphs 73F(2)(j) and (k)", substitute "paragraph 73F(2)(j)". (18) Schedule 2, item 101, page 85 (line 1), omit "do", substitute "does".

Briefly, these amendments seek to clarify the separation that we've sought through this bill between plan manager on the one hand and providers of other services on the other. We're very determined to make significant reforms to the plan management part of this scheme. We'll be moving to a commissioned model so that plan managers will only be able to offer their services to participants when the government has been satisfied that they meet certain standards and qualifications.

Our original intention was not to allow related entities—a plan manager service—to have other support services provided by a related entity. We've taken feedback from the sector and concluded that there are very high-value services being provided by related entities—not the same service per se, but by related entities—plan management on one hand and a range of other support services on the other, and that it would be really to the detriment of participants were we to adopt a harder line in relation to this.

We are making it clear that particular services are either plan managers or they're service providers of another type. Related entities will be able to provide plan management services on the one hand and other services on the other. Very strict conflict-of-interest arrangements will be put in place as a result of this bill if it passes.

I commend those changes to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Georganas ): The question is that the amendments be agreed to.