TL;DR: The Queensland Disability Advisory Council has sat vacant for nearly a year, leaving vulnerable participants without an official advocacy voice during a period of massive federal NDIS changes and state-level policy disputes.
Introduction: A Term Expired
At a time when the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is experiencing its most volatile period of structural and legislative reform since its inception, Queensland's primary state-level advisory body has been left completely inactive. The Queensland Disability Advisory Council (QDAC) has sat vacant since its term expired in August of last year.
This gap in official representation means that Queensland's disability community has had no formal, legislated channel to directly advise the state government on critical matters. According to ministerial diaries, Queensland Disability Minister Amanda Camm last met with the advisory council in June 2025, representing a prolonged absence of formal consultation.
The Role and Structure of the Council
Established under the 2006 Disability Services Act, the Queensland Disability Advisory Council is a statutory body composed of 14 members. The membership is specifically structured to ensure that individuals with lived experience of disability, alongside representatives from peak advocacy organizations, have a direct line of communication to the state executive.
Under the governing legislation, the disability minister is responsible for appointing members and retains the power to dissolve the advisory committee at any time. Historically, QDAC met four times per financial year, providing essential feedback to the minister on a wide array of policy issues, including:
- The implementation and local impacts of the NDIS.
- The state-level responses to the Disability Royal Commission.
- The development of service plans for state-based agencies.
The department’s latest annual report acknowledged this critical role, stating that "the department actively seeks the perspectives of people with disability through the Queensland Disability Advisory Council."
The Critical Context of NDIS Policy Shifts
This extended vacancy coincides with massive, highly controversial federal shifts in disability funding and support structures. The Commonwealth government has announced sweeping changes to the NDIS that are projected to result in more than 240,000 people exiting the scheme over a four-year period.
Furthermore, Queensland has found itself isolated in its policy stance regarding alternative support programs for children. The Commonwealth recently announced the "Thriving Kids" program, an alternative non-NDIS support program designed for children with autism. Queensland is currently the only Australian state that has refused to sign up for this program, raising significant concern among local families and support organizations.
Jeramy Hope, the Chief Executive of the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Alliance and a member of the New South Wales Disability Council, emphasized the danger of leaving advisory roles vacant. Hope, who is also an NDIS participant, warned that without active advisory groups to lobby governments, "people with disability can be an afterthought." He noted that these councils are vital because they force state governments to hear the direct voice, opinion, and specialized knowledge of the disability community.
The Government's Response
In response to questions on notice raised in June, Minister Amanda Camm stated that expressions of interest had been issued to existing council members, and that a pool of proposed members had been identified. Camm assured the public that the screening process for the new members was actively progressing, and a renewed council with updated terms of reference is expected to be announced shortly.
Minister Camm defended her administration, stating that she has met extensively with the disability sector during her tenure. She expressed shared concern over "the lack of information provided by the Commonwealth about long-term care arrangements, not only for young people but also for those vulnerable Queenslanders who have relied on the NDIS since it was established."
Key Takeaways
- Extended Vacancy: The Queensland Disability Advisory Council has sat vacant since August of last year, with no formal meetings held with the minister since June 2025.
- Statutory Role: QDAC is a 14-member group established under the 2006 Disability Services Act to ensure lived-experience representation in state policy decisions.
- Major Federal Changes Looming: The vacancy occurs while the federal government implements changes projected to exit 240,000 participants from the NDIS over four years.
- Autism Policy Dispute: Queensland remains the sole state that has not signed up to the Commonwealth's "Thriving Kids" alternative support program for children with autism.
- Impending Renewal: The state government claims that the screening process is currently progressing, with a renewed council and new terms of reference expected to be announced soon.
