✦ Plain-English Summary

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Strengthening Banning Orders) 2020

What it does

The NDIS Commissioner can now ban people from working with disability support services even if they've never been an NDIS provider before. Previously, banning orders only applied to people already working in the system. The ban stays in place even if someone stops working for an NDIS provider later on.

Why it matters

This closes a gap that could have allowed people unsuitable to work with vulnerable Australians to slip into disability support roles. It's about protecting NDIS participants from potential harm by catching risky people before they enter the system, not just after they're already employed.

Key details

• The Commissioner can issue a banning order if they reasonably believe someone isn't suitable to provide disability support—this applies to anyone, whether or not they've worked in NDIS before
• Banning orders are permanent even if someone leaves their job at an NDIS provider
• These bans will be recorded on the NDIS Provider Register so they're publicly visible
• The law took effect the day after it received Royal Assent

Official Description

Amends the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 to: broaden the circumstances in which the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner may make a banning order against a National Disability Insurance Scheme provider or other person; and clarifies the commissioner's related powers.

Committee Referrals

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.