Yesterday, the Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston confirmed a shortened Select Committee timeframe for the new Disability Support Services Bill of just under three months, or approximately half the time typically afforded to most Bills introduced to Parliament.
Unless changes are made, many disabled people across New Zealand will effectively be excluded from participating in the Select Committee process that will help determine the future of the support they receive, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network.
“We’re calling on the Government to urgently extend the Select Committee process for the Disability Support Services Bill so disabled people, whānau and the wider disability sector have a genuine and accessible opportunity to participate,” said NZDSN CEO Debbie Hughes.
“Rushing this Bill through shows the Government isn’t serious about including the disabled community in decisions about their own support.”
“This Bill will fundamentally shape the future of Disability Support Services in Aotearoa New Zealand for many years to come – the timeframe is just too short. Disabled people, whānau and providers deserve a genuine opportunity to understand the Bill, discuss it, seek advice, prepare submissions and participate meaningfully in the democratic process.”
A standard Select Committee process usually takes six months, with around six weeks available for public submissions.
Based on statements in Parliament, NZDSN understands the likely timeframe is:
- Minister announced the Bill – Monday 18 May 2026
- Bill tabled in the House – Tuesday 19 May 2026
- First Reading – Thursday 21 May 2026
- Select Committee submissions potentially opening – around 12 June 2026
- Public submission period – approximately 3 weeks – 12 June – 3 July
- Select Committee report back to Parliament – 13 August 2026
“This is an extraordinarily compressed process for legislation affecting potentially hundreds of thousands of disabled people,” said Debbie Hughes.
“The Minister shared the Bill with a handful of sector representatives an hour before it was announced. Disabled people and the sector weren’t consulted on the legislation’s design and development before it was introduced to Parliament.”
NZDSN said accessibility must be at the centre of the Select Committee process.
“Time is one of the most important reasonable accommodations disabled people need to participate equitably. Many disabled people face barriers relating to communication, transport, fatigue, support availability, literacy, digital access and processing complex information. Compressed timeframes significantly compound these barriers.”
“The Government also needs time to make sure the process is genuinely accessible to the people they will be hearing from.”
NZDSN says accessibility measures must include:
- Easy Read and plain language information
- New Zealand Sign Language interpreters
- Other alternate formats – large print, Braille, plain language
- Translations – Māori, Pacifica and other languages
- Accessible online and in-person hearing options
- Alternative submission formats
- Supported decision-making and communication supports
- Sufficient time for disabled people, whānau and organisations to engage meaningfully
“Without sufficient time and accessible participation options, there’s a real risk this legislation will progress without many disabled people being able to meaningfully engage in the democratic process they have every right to participate in. In practice, this begins to resemble legislation being progressed under urgency, significantly limiting public participation and scrutiny,” said Debbie Hughes.
“The Government is obligated under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to ensure disabled people can participate fully and effectively in public and political life and in decisions affecting them.”
“We welcome the Minister’s words she wants to engage with disabled people, the community and the wider sector – the Government needs to back up that commitment in practice by listening to disabled people and acting on what they are saying.”
“This is fundamentally about choice, control, dignity and participation – principles the Minister herself has said are important. A genuinely accessible and fair Select Committee process is essential if those principles are to mean anything in practice.”