Two people accused of colluding to improperly register more than 200 NDIS providers have been permanently banned from the scheme
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has issued its first lifetime banning orders under expanded powers introduced this year, permanently excluding two people from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Former NDIS consultant Zeinab Ghamraoui, of H&M Consulting Group, and NDIS auditor Sanyog Desai were banned after an investigation by the regulator.
The pair are alleged to have colluded in the improper registration of more than 200 NDIS providers.
Dozens of registrations revoked
As a result of the investigation, the Commission revoked the registration of 40 providers linked to Ghamraoui and Desai.
A further 195 provider registrations were refused.
The lifetime bans were made possible by powers introduced in April under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Act 2026.
Before those changes, the watchdog could ban providers and workers, but did not have explicit powers to exclude other actors such as consultants and auditors, even where collusion was suspected.
Commissioner says integrity is fundamental
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said confidence in the registration and audit process was essential to maintaining trust in the scheme.
She said the outcome showed the Commission was prepared to remove people whose conduct threatened the safety, quality and integrity of the NDIS.
The regulator would use all available enforcement tools to deal with serious non-compliance and misconduct, regardless of the role a person played within the broader NDIS system.
Government warns against “quick buck” operators
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the cases should serve as a warning to anyone attempting to exploit the scheme.
She said people looking to make a “quick buck” from the NDIS should expect to be removed.
The action comes as the Albanese government pushes ahead with broader reforms aimed at tackling fraud, reducing rorting and containing the growing cost of the scheme.
Wider reforms remain controversial
The government’s proposed NDIS reforms have attracted criticism from disability advocates concerned about the potential impact on participants and access to support.
According to the figures cited in the report, the broader reform package is expected to reduce spending by about $38 billion and could result in around 160,000 people leaving the scheme.
The changes are currently under parliamentary scrutiny, with the inquiry period extended to allow more examination of the proposals.
A significant precedent
The lifetime bans mark an important shift in the regulator’s enforcement approach.
The Commission is no longer focused only on registered providers and frontline workers, but also on the consultants, auditors and other intermediaries who help shape access to the scheme.
The challenge will be to strengthen integrity while ensuring legitimate participants continue to receive the support they need.
