Aussies panic about being kicked off the NDIS as Mark Butler is asked THREE TIMES if families will be forced to pay for disability services

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:52, 27 April 2026 | Updated: 06:52, 27 April 2026 Australians relying on the NDIS have raised their concerns about suddenly being cut off after the Albanese government revealed 160,000 participants would get the boot.  NDIS Minister Mark Butler unveiled sweeping changes to the scheme last week, including tightening eligibility rules, slashing spending, reducing third-party management costs and introducing new provider standards. Aussies living with a disability have vented their fears they could be among the participants to be dumped from the scheme, saying it will reduce their quality of life. Butler was forced to defend the overhaul in spending on Sunday as he was asked whether residents will be forced to cough up their own money to pay for essential services.  Tessa, who lives with autism and psychosocial disability, said the NDIS makes her independence possible.  'Because of the NDIS, I can work three days a week and maintain employment,' she said. 'I can stay out of hospital and live independently.'  She warned that without the NDIS, she would 'not be well' and would 'not be able to go to work'. Tessa (pictured) said that she relied on the NDIS for her independence and feared the changes Single mum Kymberly Moss said she is 'terrified' for her two daughters with level two autism and additional diagnoses.  'People see them functioning in public, but they don't see the meltdowns and aggression at home,' she said.  'When you cut 160,000 people from the scheme, they don't just stop being disabled.'  Fardell warned that slashing social and community participation funding would 'have a definite impact on participants'. She said forcing all providers to register would be the most disruptive change.  'Four out of five providers are unregistered sole traders, and this is a huge impact on our industry,' she said.  'There is a lot of anxiety and panic, but we will deal with this and get through it together.'    Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Butler said the government is finally taking financial control of the NDIS, with new laws due to be introduced to Parliament in May.  Kymberly Moss (pictured) said she was concerned for the future of two autistic children Host Andrew Clennell repeatedly challenged Butler to admit whether the NDIS reforms would force more families to pay for services out of their own pockets. 'Do these changes basically mean, in a nutshell, a lot more people will have to reach into their own pockets for services?' he asked the first time. Butler responded: 'That first tranche of changes that will take effect immediately really is about curtailing out-of-control growth. It's not reducing the scheme size, which is currently over $50 billion, the largest social programme we have outside the age pension.' Clennell asked a second time if the changes would mean 'there will be more user pays?'  'There will be more disabled people, parents of disabled people, reaching into their own pockets to pay for these services?' he said. Butler deflected, arguing the outcome depended on the type of support required. 'If people are not going to be on the NDIS because they're not severely and permanently disabled, there obviously have to be government‑funded supports in place for them,' he said. Clennell hit back a third time, saying he was 'struggling' get Butler to 'admit what I think is the truth'. Mark Butler (pictured) said that participants wouldn't be kicked off the scheme immediately  'That yes, there will be state government supports, but there will be more cases of people having to reach into their own pockets to pay for these services. Yes or no?' 'I don't necessarily accept that,' Butler said. 'There will be supports available where families live, learn and play, and they are going to be government‑funded services.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.