Australia Appoints Minister for Disability and NDIS

Today, Australia took a long-overdue and vital step forward in disability justice.

Mark Butler has been officially appointed as the Minister for Disability and NDIS — a role that, for the first time, will extend beyond the NDIS to hold all government departments accountable for addressing systemic ableism and discrimination against disabled people.

This is a significant move for the 1 in 5 Australians who live with disability — especially since only 12% of disabled Australians are covered by the NDIS. A holistic, coordinated approach is desperately needed.

So what could this look like?

• Mandated accessible housing through building codes

• A shared equity housing scheme

• Support for the 88% of disabled people not covered by the NDIS

• Co-designed foundational services in schools, workplaces, and healthcare

• A dedicated voice in Parliament for a community that’s been sidelined for too long

  
  

We’re hopeful this appointment signals meaningful change and a future where disabled people have real representation, not just support schemes.

We’ve reached out to Minister Butler to better understand his background and experience with disability. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.