A recent investigation in The Saturday Paper lays out a chain of decisions inside the NDIA that reads like a how-to in retaliation. It names NDIA chief Rebecca Falkingham and quotes internal emails. One line is blunt: “my priority is revoking access as quickly as possible for this participant.” Another says “all other issues are a second order priority,” and a deputy replies, “stoppers as we speak.”
What the NDIA actually did, step by step
- A commercial talkback segment on 2GB attacks a participant’s funding while thundering about “NDIS rorts.” The participant is not on air.
- The next morning there is no investigation and no contact with treating clinicians. The CEO emails four deputies, plus integrity and comms, to prioritise revoking access.
- Time stamps tell the story. The CEO’s email lands at 11:44 am. Four minutes later a deputy replies that they have located the participant and are “putting stoppers as we speak.” Within 18 minutes payment blocks are active and a fast tracked eligibility reassessment begins, focused on making revocation “legally defensible.”
- The participant’s plan is about $30,000 and underspent by half. So not a budget blowout.
- Internal guidance says the right of reply should be 28 days. The letter sent gives seven.
- The participant scrambles. They lodge 259 pages of medical evidence and a detailed statement a day after the arbitrary deadline. Forty one minutes later a decision letter issues saying access will cease. The delegate notes she has not read all the evidence.
- The participant fights back and lists the case for a tribunal hearing. Before the hearing, the NDIA folds and reinstates access 10 months later, with more recognised disabilities than before.
- Public line from the Agency: everything was lawful. Sure.
The media spark that set this off
The catalyst was Ben Fordham on 2GB. He trawled roughly 90 minutes of the participant’s own YouTube content, sliced together carefully chosen clips, and presented it as “coaching” on how to use NDIS buzzwords. Classic selective edit. Cue public outrage. Then, inside the NDIA, the rush to yank access begins. The cause and effect writes itself.
So, do we rock the boat or not?
Truth matters. Speaking up when an organisation is not doing the right thing should always be acceptable. This is not about spite. It is about facts and accountability. The advocate at the centre of this has been publishing how eligibility really works, including the exact wording the NDIA expects to see. That is not cheating. That is survival in a system that keeps shifting the goalposts. Navigating access is already hard and getting harder. Information that helps the community understand the rules should be celebrated, not used as a pretext to cut someone off. The timeline above looks and feels like revenge. That should worry everyone who relies on the scheme.
How this climate was built
Public opinion has been steered to see the NDIS as too generous and participants as the problem. That did not happen by accident. Government talking points and NDIA communications have leaned heavily on “fraud,” “rorts” and “savings,” and the media has amplified it. The overwhelming majority of participants and providers who do the right thing get lumped in with a tiny minority who do not. Inside the NDIA there are many good people, planners included. The problem is the directive from the top. Every extra dollar must be fought for. The weight of that fight lands on participants, with harsher readings, nitpicks over wording, and a constant search for reasons to say no.
Where leadership stands right now
There is not solid reporting confirming that the CEO has been sacked or has resigned. Officially, she is on personal leave. An acting CEO is in the chair. A CEO job ad has been posted. Leadership change is clearly on the table. If that shifts, we will update our wording.
If you decide to rock the boat, do it smart
Get backup if you can. A support coordinator or an independent advocate can help you plan the steps and keep it factual.
Keep everything in writing. Ask for reasons in writing. Save emails, letters, texts and call notes.
When NDIA processes fail to deliver fair outcomes, apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Keep pushing until you receive a lawful, evidence based decision.
If the issue is systemic, escalate beyond the NDIA. Use the media, and contact non government MPs such as the Greens who often take these matters up. Document any pushback you experience and keep going.
If you are feeling targeted, reach out for help. You do not have to carry it alone.
A final word
Are you feeling the pinch, being dicked around by process, or worried about speaking up because it might put a target on your back? Feel free to reach out for a straight talking chat about what is changing, speaking the truth, and what your next steps could look like.
Read the piece yourself:
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2025/07/05/exclusive-ndia-chief-intervened-throw-advocate-scheme