Disability advocates and legal services are calling for stronger oversight of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in the Northern Territory after allegations that some providers are using inducements and coercion to access the plans of vulnerable First Nations participants in remote communities.
A report compiled by disability advocate groups and the Darwin Community Legal Service details complaints that people living with disability have been offered cash, food and phones to switch providers or sign up to the NDIS. In some cases, advocates say, the promised supports do not materialise, while participants’ plans are rapidly depleted through excessive invoicing.
SBS NITV reported that one anonymous advocate in Katherine described people being “promised phones or KFC to change providers” and said it was occurring “every week”. Another service provider in Tennant Creek said plans intended to last a year were being “drained in two months”, leaving participants without resources for essential supports.
Separate ABC reporting described similar concerns, including allegations that some providers recruit and retain clients through gifts such as cigarettes, food and phones, and then “overservice” by invoicing for far more hours than a participant’s plan permits. Advocates say remote settings can intensify vulnerability due to language barriers, limited service options and a belief that anyone using the “NDIS” name must be official.
The SBS report also described complaints where providers allegedly misrepresented themselves as being part of the NDIS, approached people in hospitals and dialysis wards, and used family relationships to pressure participants into changing arrangements. In one case summarised in the reporting, a participant’s personal identification and banking cards were allegedly taken by a worker, raising concerns about financial control and safeguarding.
Advocates argue the complaints process is not delivering consequences fast enough for repeat offenders. The report claims the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission “rarely follows up on serious complaints”. A commission spokesperson said it is increasing its “compliance and enforcement efforts in the Northern Territory” and would continue to strengthen oversight to ensure people with disability are treated with “dignity, safety and respect”.
The NDIS Commission’s compliance framework includes tools such as banning orders and other regulatory actions, but advocates say the scale and geography of the NT market demand more visible enforcement and quicker intervention when harm is alleged.
For remote First Nations communities, the issue is not only financial loss from drained plans but the human cost when supports fail: isolation, neglect and the erosion of trust in a system meant to enable independence and wellbeing. Advocates are urging governments and regulators to respond with stronger safeguards that reflect the realities of remote service delivery and the right of First Nations people with disability to safe, culturally informed support.
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