Regulator welcomes new powers to strengthen NDIS integrity and safeguards
Federal Parliament has passed significant legislative reforms to strengthen the safety, quality and integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025 delivers tougher penalties for serious misconduct and unsafe practices, and stronger powers for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to protect participants from abuse, neglect, exploitation and fraud.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville has welcomed the reform, saying it will support the national regulator to take more effective action to prevent harm and improve quality across the sector.
“These reforms strengthen our ability to identify and respond to risks, take timely enforcement action, and drive better practice across providers,” Ms Glanville said.
“They reflect extensive consultation with people with disability, families, advocates and providers, including those delivering supports in regional and rural communities.”
Key measures of the legislation that will enhance the NDIS Commission’s regulatory work include:
- Tougher civil penalties and new criminal offences for serious misconduct:
- Civil penalties for providers will increase from a maximum of $412,500 to more than $15 million when a participant is hurt or injured under the provider’s care.
- New criminal offences – attracting up to 5 years’ imprisonment – will address behaviour that demonstrates continual and intentional disregard of regulatory arrangements that protect participant safety, specifically providing supports that require registration without being registered, and failing to comply with a banning order.
- Stronger regulatory powers for the NDIS Commission:
- Strengthened monitoring, compliance and enforcement powers.
- Expanded banning order powers to ban auditors and consultants.
- Anti-promotion orders to restrict unscrupulous providers and others from promoting products or services that undermine the integrity of the NDIS
This legislation follows detailed consideration by the Parliament, including review by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, and was informed by the NDIS Commission’s consultation and regulatory intelligence.
ENDS
Media contact
Phone: 02 5162 6911
Email: media@ndiscommission.gov.au