Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) made submissions and appeared before the Senate Committee. Like the rest of the disability sector, A4 expressed extremely strong opposition to Labor's proposed legislation. 

A4's representative, Bob Buckley, appeared before the Committee at 12noon on 10/6/2026 ... together with representatives from the Australian Autism Alliance and SWAN/EAC. 

Clare Rowe, Psychologist.

Opinion

We must have an honest conversation about a condition that can describe both a successful media personality and a person who will require lifelong care and supervision.

Recent communication with the Attorney-General shows major disinterest in whether the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) that the government created in 2024 works effectively. 

A4's major concerns with the operation of the ART's NDIS division include:

This article by Professors Andrew Whitehouse and Mirko Uljarevic, from The University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute Australia, Professor David Trembath, from The Kids Research Institute Australia, was originally published in The Conversation on 14 May 2026.

Thinking about autism has evolved.

Just three decades ago, autism was a relatively rare and clearly defined condition, diagnosed in people with limited verbal language and highly repetitive behaviour.

People have been contacting A4 and other DROs with stories of their NDIS plans being cut when their circumstances have not changed. The NDIS says these reports are just annecdotal, denies it is happening, and ignores the issue. 

Since the start of the NDIS, no NDIS Minister has met A4, the only national DRO that represents people with severe and profound autism. These are the autistic Australians who are meant to remain in the NDIS once the new eligibility criteria come into effect.