Report calls for creation of a disability rights act
After four long years and many thousands of hours of submissions the final report by the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability has been tabled in Federal Parliament. Two hundred and twenty-two recommendations for change have been made, including the phasing out of segregated education, employment and group homes. Disability advocates have called it a huge day for their community. The government did not respond to any of the individual recommendations instead announcing a task force to respond to the Royal Commission.
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TVTranscript
00:00 23 year old Olivia Sidhu is living a life that the Royal Commission wants for all people
00:07 with disability. She works in open employment.
00:12 I love working with the people in the office. It gives me joy.
00:19 For advocates there were mixed emotions as the final report of the Royal Commission into
00:26 violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability was made public.
00:31 It's a difficult day because there's a lot to digest and a lot for people to take in.
00:38 Today is a huge day for our community. It is one that is filled with both pride but
00:45 also grief. It is a day where we reflect on everything that we gave to get that Royal
00:50 Commission on the national agenda.
00:52 The message of this report is clear. We do need to do better.
00:56 The report is 5000 pages long and contains 222 recommendations impacting the lives of
01:03 the 4.4 million Australians who live with disability.
01:07 It involves recommendations around health, education, housing, employment. It involves
01:14 not just governments but non-government organisations as well.
01:20 Major reforms are recommended around segregated settings. Some commissioners want group homes
01:26 to be phased out within 15 years. An end to segregated employment by 2034 and no students
01:33 remaining in special schools by 2051.
01:36 We cannot allow as a society another generation of children to be educated in separate settings.
01:43 There will be families worried at the prospect of group homes and special schools closing.
01:49 But it is important to remember these are recommendations. The report makes clear change
01:54 won't happen overnight and it must be done in consultation with the disability community.
02:00 The report also recommends a federal disability portfolio including a dedicated minister and
02:06 the introduction of a national disability commission to enforce a new Disability Rights
02:11 Act.
02:12 The government has announced $4.25 million over two years will be allocated to a task
02:18 force to coordinate its response to the report.
02:21 I do see this as a moment of national unity. I do see this as a moment where we can paint
02:28 the horizon for people with disability in Australia.
02:32 A call to action.
02:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]