What disability advocates want from the next federal budget

As the federal government prepares the next budget, disability advocates are calling for urgent action to fix gaps that continue to leave many people living with disability struggling.

National disability rights organisation People with Disability Australia (PWDA) says the 2026–27 Federal Budget is a critical opportunity to act on promises already made, especially after the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review handed down their findings in 2023.

While recent budgets included some positive steps, PWDA argues they did not go far enough. Many people living with disability are still facing rising living costs, insecure housing, reduced supports and systems that are hard to access or navigate.

Here’s what disability advocates are asking for, in simple terms.

A fair and accessible NDIS

The NDIS is meant to support people living with disability to live independently and take part in everyday life. PWDA says recent changes and funding pressures risk making the scheme harder to access and less effective.

Advocates are calling for:

• Stable, long-term funding for the NDIS
• No removal of supports before proper alternatives are in place
• Assurance that people already on the NDIS won’t lose support while new systems are rolled out

The message is clear: cutting support now only shifts costs to hospitals, crisis services and families later.

Support for people who are not on the NDIS

Around five million Australians living with disability are not NDIS participants. Many still need help with daily living, mental health, parenting, education or community participation.

PWDA is calling for properly funded Foundational Supports, which sit outside the NDIS and are available to everyone with disability, regardless of eligibility.

Advocates want:

• Clear, ongoing funding for Foundational Supports
• Equal access across all states and regions
• People with disability involved in designing and reviewing these supports

Without these services, many people fall through the cracks.

Help with cost of living and income security

Many people living with disability live below the poverty line, especially those relying on income support.

Advocates are calling for:

• Higher Disability Support Pension and JobSeeker payments
• Changes that make it easier to try working without losing income support
• Removal of the partner income test, which can force people into financial dependence

The goal is simple: people living with disability should be able to afford food, housing, healthcare and basic dignity.

More accessible and affordable housing

Accessible housing is in short supply across Australia. Many people living with disability are stuck in unsafe homes, institutions or living arrangements they didn’t choose.

PWDA is asking the government to:

• Require new homes to meet basic accessibility standards
• Invest in accessible, affordable housing nationally

When housing is accessible from the start, it reduces the need for costly modifications later and benefits the whole community.

Stronger rights and protection from discrimination

Despite existing laws, many people living with disability still face discrimination in work, education, housing and services.

Advocates are calling for:

• A national human rights act that includes disability rights
• Modernisation of the Disability Discrimination Act
• Better enforcement, not just complaints systems

These changes would help prevent harm rather than relying on individuals to fight for justice after the fact.

Proper funding for advocacy and decision-making support

Advocacy services help people living with disability understand their rights, speak up and stay safe. Many are under-funded and stretched.

PWDA wants:

• Long-term funding for disability advocacy services
• Better support for people to make their own decisions, with help if needed
• National consistency in supported decision-making

Without advocacy, people are more likely to be isolated, exploited or unheard.

Real co-design and disability-led research

Disability advocates are clear about one thing: decisions about people with disability must include people with disability.

PWDA is calling for:

• Genuine co-design in all disability reforms
• Fair pay and time for people with lived experience to contribute
• Continued funding for disability-led research

This ensures policies work in real life, not just on paper.

Why this budget matters

PWDA says people living with disability were largely overlooked in the last federal budget. The next one is a chance to correct course.

Advocates warn that failing to invest now will lead to higher costs later, through homelessness, hospital admissions and crisis responses. More importantly, it will continue to deny people with disability the chance to live safe, secure and meaningful lives.

As the budget approaches, disability advocates are clear: these changes are not optional. They are essential.