‘They’ve engaged a barrister!’ Parents of high-needs children say Labor is waging lawfare over disability support

Tina and Ben* with their two-year-old daughter, who has a rare genetic condition. They are representing themselves in a legal battle over their child’s NDIS plan. *Not their real names. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

The federal government spent more than $60m on private law firms to fight national disability insurance scheme participants appealing decisions about their packages last financial year, a 60% increase from the year before, Guardian Australia can reveal.

The National Disability Insurance Agency paid $60.7m to six external law firms in 2024-25 to represent it at the administrative review tribunal (ART), figures released under freedom of information show.