Responsibility: Australian, state and territory governments
Joint Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What has been achieved to date
All governments remain committed to working together to progress this recommendation.
All NDIS providers are already required to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct, including managing conflicts of interest through the requirement to act with integrity, honesty and transparency. Registered NDIS providers must also demonstrate management of conflict of interest through quality audits and compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards, and the NDIS Commission can take strong regulatory action where breaches of the NDIS Act occur. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will continue to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) to enhance NDIS Rules related to conflicts of interest.
The NDIS Commission undertook an Own Motion Inquiry into Support Coordination and Plan Management to support delivery of this recommendation. Part 2 of the Own Motion Inquiry commenced in 2024, with a focus on regulatory settings for support coordinators.
On 16 September 2024, the Australian Government announced its intent to require all platform providers, support coordinators, and Supported Independent Living providers to be registered. The NDIS Commission initiated consultation on mandatory registration requirements for these provider groups which closed in March 2025.
The NDIS Commission is undertaking a review of Commissioner-made NDIS Rules and NDIS Practice Standards, which have not undergone a comprehensive review since their introduction. This review will consider the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission.
The NDIA has published a Position Statement on ‘Conflicts of Interest in the NDIS provider market’, along with suite of resources (declaration form, factsheets, checklists) to assist participants and providers to discuss, manage and declare conflicts of interest. These resources were released on the NDIS Website.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
To address potential conflicts of interest, the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) should, in consultation with states and territories, create or amend an NDIS Rule to make clear that it is not appropriate for a provider of support coordination to be the provider of any other funded supports in an NDIS participant’s plan.
Exceptions to the Rule should be developed in consultation with people with disability, disabled people’s organisations, disability representative organisations including member-led First Nations Community Controlled Organisations, and peak bodies.
Exceptions may include situations where there are limited alternative service options for NDIS participants due to thin disability service markets, or where there are limited culturally appropriate or specialised services available.
Joint Government response July 2024
The Australian Government and state and territory governments are committed to improving safeguards for people with disability in the provision of disability support services, including greater controls around conflicts of interest.
Governments will work together with people with disability, their families, carers, representative organisations, First Nations Community Controlled Organisations and peak bodies to consider the most appropriate approach to preventing conflicts of interest in support coordination. This will include consideration of the potential need for exceptions in limited circumstances.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.