The NDIS was established with bipartisan support as one of the most important social reforms in our nation’s history. Its goal was simple but profound: to give people with disability real choice and control over the supports that make the biggest difference in their lives.

That original vision is something I wholeheartedly support — and something we must protect.

Unfortunately, the scheme has become a battleground of bureaucracy. Families are weighed down by endless reviews, audits, and layers of cost-control instead of being trusted to know what they need. This isn’t what the NDIS was meant to be. And ironically, it is this management-heavy approach that is driving many of the cost blowouts we hear so much about — not families overusing the system.

Right now, families of children with autism are feeling this most acutely. Proposed changes at a federal level risk excluding children with autism from NDIS access, shifting responsibility back to state health and education systems that are already overstretched. For parents in our community, this creates huge stress and uncertainty. They worry their children will miss out on therapies and early interventions that can change lives.

And even when families do secure NDIS plans, access is limited by the shortage of allied health professionals in our region. Long waitlists for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology mean that money in a plan doesn’t always translate into real supports on the ground. Unless state and federal governments invest in building this workforce, the NDIS promise will remain unfulfilled.

I recognise that the costs of the scheme have grown far beyond original projections and are on track to exceed even defence expenditure. That does mean changes are needed to ensure sustainability — but in my view, this is not achieved by stripping supports from families, excluding children, or layering on more bureaucracy. It means being honest about what belongs in the NDIS, what belongs in universal healthcare, and what should be funded through mainstream education and housing systems — and then properly resourcing those systems so people don’t fall through the cracks.

As a society, we’re supposed to have a solid safety net and universal healthcare. Which layer of government pays for what shouldn’t be the thing that drives advocacy — but too often, the major parties get caught in endless finger-pointing between state and federal budgets, while families are left in limbo.

That’s why as an Independent, I will always put the needs of people in our community first. My only loyalty is to the people of Kiama — not to a party line. I will:

• Call out both state and federal governments when they fail to deliver.
• Advocate for the autism community and families worried about losing vital supports.
• Push for real investment in the allied health workforce across regional NSW.
• Defend the principle of choice and control that sits at the heart of the NDIS.

The NDIS is too important to be reduced to a political football. We must fix the system to make it sustainable — but never at the cost of dignity, choice, and fairness for people with disability.

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About Kate Dezarnaulds and Her Campaign for Kiama

Kate Dezarnaulds is an independent candidate for Kiama, committed to delivering practical, community-driven solutions for the South Coast in the model of the Community Independents Project and backed by Climate200. A local business leader and advocate for regional investment, Kate is focused on fixing real issues, including improving infrastructure, strengthening local economies, and ensuring government funding reaches the people who need it. Kate’s campaign is built on listening to the community, advocating for transparency, and working collaboratively to achieve meaningful change. She believes that Kiama deserves a strong, independent voice in Macquarie Street—one that puts people before politics.

Authorised by Kate Dezarnaulds, 3/68 Albert St, Berry NSW 2535