QAI made a submission to the Community Support and Services Committee regarding the Disability Services (Restrictive
Practices) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.
Restrictive practices have substantial impacts on the rights, freedoms and wellbeing of the people subjected to them. While the Bill introduces some welcome changes, QAI is disappointed to see that it falls short of the recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission (see Recommendations 6.35-6.41); recommendations that many in the sector consider to be moderate, at best.
Enhancing rights, including review and appeal rights for authorisation decisions, is important. However, new rights introduced by the Bill must be accompanied by additional support avenues for people with disability to exercise and enforce them.
Accountability is fundamental to ensuring restrictive practices are only used as a last resort measure within a framework that is genuinely trying to work towards reducing and eliminating their use.
Read our full submission here: