28 April 2025
Highlights from PWDA’s 2025 Federal Election Forum
On Wednesday 16 April 2025, People with Disability Australia (PWDA) held an online Federal Election Forum that brought together our members, the broader disability community and key political leaders to discuss the issues that matter most to people with disability.
Held just weeks before the Federal Election, the forum gave our community the opportunity to hear directly from political leaders, ask questions and press for commitments on the priorities identified in PWDA’s 2025 Federal Election Platform, a platform built by and for people with disability.
PWDA President Trinity Ford opened the forum by calling on all Australians to vote for disability rights this election.
People with disability make up a powerful voting bloc, some 5.5 million strong. Yet we often remain sidelined in national policy debates. This election is a chance to change that, she said.
Introducing PWDA’s Election Platform and Resources
During the forum, PWDA President Trinity Ford and Deputy CEO Megan Spindler-Smith presented our 2025 Election Platform and Community Activation Kit, officially launched earlier this month. The platform outlines seven key priorities for action:
- Invest in the NDIS
Guarantee long-term, sustainable funding, ensure participant control over our supports and prevent cost-cutting that restricts access to essential supports.
- Fund Nationally Consistent Foundational Supports
Ensure disability supports outside the NDIS are consistently available and delivered. These supports are essential not optional for the 5.5 million Australians with disability, including the nearly 5 million who aren’t on the NDIS.
- Raise the Rate
Increase income support payments, including the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and JobSeeker, to above the poverty line so people with disability can afford the cost of living and achieve financial security. Increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance to cover the real cost of accessible housing.
- Make Housing Accessible
Mandate the “Livable Housing Design Silver Standard” in the National Construction Code across all states and territories and commit to a national housing plan that meets the needs of people with disability.
- Ensure Disability Representation in Government
Create a Minister for Disability Inclusion in Federal Cabinet and establish a dedicated Department of Disability Equality and Inclusion.
- Protect Our Human Rights
Strengthen disability rights through a Human Rights Act and improvements to the Disability Discrimination Act. Fully fund individual and systemic advocacy services so people with disability can protect and enforce their rights.
- Support Diversity in the Public Sector
Increase employment of people with disability and safeguard diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal public sector workplaces.
“This agenda was built by our community. If we want disability rights to be a defining issue this election, we need all of you to act, to campaign, to vote,” said President Trinity Ford.
Labor’s Commitments: Minister Amanda Rishworth
Minister for Social Services and the NDIS, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, addressed the forum to share Labor’s plans if returned to government. Her commitments included:
- Continuing to implement key recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission, including reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act.
- Implementing foundational supports in partnership with state and territory governments.
- Strengthening co-design and co-governance processes across disability policy.
- Continuing to embed disability inclusion across housing, employment, and education systems.
- Delivering sustainable reform to the NDIS that protects participant access and improves planning and service delivery.
- Building a stronger social services safety net that supports people at different ages and stages of life.
Minister Rishworth acknowledged ongoing concerns about inconsistent service delivery, planning delays and fears people will be exited from the NDIS without appropriate supports in place.
The Greens’ Commitments: Senator Jordon Steele-John
Senator Jordon Steele-John, representing the Australian Greens, thanked PWDA for our leadership in opposing the recent NDIS Reform Bill and outlined the Greens’ commitments:
- Reversing Labor’s projected $80 billion NDIS cuts.
- Ensuring nationally consistent foundational supports are co-designed, clearly defined and tested before rollout.
- Implementing a 20% disability employment quota in the federal public sector.
- Fully phasing out discriminatory Australian Disability Enterprises in favour of inclusive employment.
- Reforming systems to guarantee access to inclusive education, healthcare, and human rights protections.
Senator Steele-John emphasised that disability rights must be seen as human rights and embedded across all areas of government policy.
Hearing from our community
The forum’s Q&A segment, facilitated by PWDA Board Secretary and Member Engagement Advisory Co-Convenor Steph Travers, gave members the chance to raise the issues that will shape their vote.
Key themes included:
- A strong call for genuine co-design in all areas of disability policy.
- Urgent progress on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations — not just in principle, but in practice.
- Serious concerns about the NDIS ‘in and out’ lists and people losing supports without foundational supports in place.
- The need for trauma-informed and culturally safe NDIS staff training.
- Ensuring no further NDIS cuts and addressing funding shortfalls in advocacy and foundational supports.
What’s next
As the forum came to a close, Trinity Ford reminded attendees that our advocacy doesn’t end on election day.
“Together, we can make 2025 the year that disability rights became a political priority,” she said.
The full recording of the forum is now available online. You can access the full recording here.
Vote Disability Rights
Voting in the 2025 Federal Election takes place on Saturday 3 May. In the lead-up to the election, PWDA encourages all members and supporters to explore our:
- Pledge to vote for disability rights.
- Community Activation Kit to campaign in your community.
These tools are designed to support you to take action, have your say and help shape a future where disability rights are front and centre in national policy.
Together, let’s make change happen.
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