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Disability Support Services

Disability Support Services Bill

In May 2026, the Minister for Disability Issues announced that the Government would introduce a new Disability Support Services Bill.

On 13 August 2026, the Social Services and Community Select Committee reported back on the Bill. It recommended the Bill move forward with some changes that respond to feedback it heard from the disability community during the select committee process. 

In summary the key changes to the Bill have:

  • Clarified the role of families.
  • Included people centred principles to underpin decision making.
  • Added a requirement to consult before changes are made to support programmes.

The Government’s key priority for the Bill is that disabled people and their families should be able to understand how the disability support service system works and have confidence in how decisions are made. 

The Bill will provide a legal framework for Disability Support Services:

  • The Bill puts into law the purpose of DSS funding and the principles for decisions, such as consideration of the safety, dignity, choice and preferences of disabled people. This provides a solid foundation for the DSS system going forward.
  • The Bill creates a transparent process for future changes to disability supports and services through a legislative requirement to consult on support programmes and to consider outcomes for disabled people.
  • Introduces certainty regarding employment relationships within the DSS system.

Importantly

  • The Bill does not change current eligibility, entitlements or support, or introduce income or asset testing where it is not currently used.
  • People will continue to access their supports and funding as they do now.
  • Existing assessment and allocation processes continue.

Find out more about the Select Committee report back

Alternate formats of the Summary of Changes from the Select Committee report back document:

Find out more about the Bill on our website

Other information about the Bill

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