A landmark inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has recommended a rigorous regulatory overhaul to eliminate systemic rorting and safeguard the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

The Federal Parliament’s Inquiry into the Integrity of the NDIS identified that a lack of stringent oversight has allowed unscrupulous providers to exploit the scheme, diverting essential funds away from at-risk groups, including those with complex neurodevelopmental and physical disabilities.  

The inquiry heard of providers using the NDIS to launder money, hide assets and pay cash kickbacks to organised crime, seriously undermining the $50 billion program.  

The inquiry made 26 recommendations based on the evidence. These include the introduction of a universal registration system, the implementation of mandatory price caps to prevent price gouging, and a review of “over-servicing” by predatory operators. 

NDIS Minister, Mark Butler, said it was to “clean up rorts” and end the “let it rip” market of NDIS providers. 

“We want to see more quality, more confidence for participants that when they’re engaging a provider to give them some service, that provider has been vetted, that they can be confident they’ve got the right qualifications, the right character, that the money is going to the right place.”