On Wednesday 31st July 2024, ten months after the publication of the Disability Royal Commission’s final report, the Federal and State Governments issued their response to the Disability Royal Commission’s 222 recommendations.
QAI’s CEO, Matilda Alexander, attended a press conference in Brisbane to speak about the response. Here is QAI’s statement in full:
“Today is only possible because people with disability campaigned for decades for a Royal Commission. Today is only possible because people with disability spent five years through COVID-19 and other barriers coming forward to tell their stories. Many people with disability will be anxious and reliving painful memories today. Thank you. Because of this bravery, we are now collectively striving to make things better. These recommendations are needed and we are pleased the majority are accepted or accepted in principle.
Thanks to people with disability and the Disability Royal Commission, Government now knows the scale of the violence, abuse and neglect in our community. It knows the causes of these great harms and it has largely supported the many recommendations for change.
But the work is not done yet.
We would have liked to see more recommendations accepted and actioned immediately. While we are glad to see the government has accepted in principle the majority of recommendations, an in principle acceptance does not require immediate action. We need the violence, abuse and neglect to stop now. Now is the time for immediate action.
Today we were hoping for more commitments and there is a disappointment that there hasn’t been more progress over the last 10 months. Despite this, we welcome the openness to continue working with people with disability towards full implementation of the recommendations. None of the recommendations have been rejected by the Commonwealth, only one by Queensland and the majority have been accepted in principle. This shows a willingness to work with people with disability towards inclusion. It is disappointing that the only recommendation rejected by the Queensland government relates to protection of the youngest and most vulnerable children with disability.
People with disability said we need more transparency and accountability, that its not enough to expect those suffering from abuse, neglect and exploitation to record, report and end the harm. We welcome increased funding for disability advocacy seen this year in Queensland and an in principle commitment from the Commonwealth. However, not one of the recommendations in Volume 11: Independent oversight and complaint mechanisms was accepted, apart from in principle. These are changes that we need now. Without action, systems to support people with disability such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be come avenues for abuse.
People with disability said we need to end institutionalisation and segregation. We welcome most governments in principle acceptance to end the indefinite detention of people with disability in forensic and mental health facilities. We are glad to see a continued openness to move away from sheltered workshops and group homes but need urgent action now. We welcome the in principle acceptance of the recommendation to separate housing providers from supports, which needs to be planned for and progressed.
People with disability said education is important and that we need to keep kids in schools. We welcome the universal in principle agreement to make suspension and exclusion a last resort and to provide better funding and outcomes in our schools because disabled kids need support, not punishment.
The DRC Commissioners with disability said we need to end segregated education and it was disappointing not to see a stronger commitment to opening up special schools thus making all schools welcome to all kids. We are glad to see the government hasn’t ruled out ending segregation and ensuring inclusion.
People with disability said we need stronger discrimination laws. The Queensland government has a blueprint for these in the Human Rights Commission’s ‘Building Belonging’ report and the first stage of these reforms is in progress with the Respect at Work Bill now before Queensland parliament. We look forward to stronger Federal and State Human Rights protections following today’s in principle support.
As governments work towards the implementation of the Disability Royal Commission recommendations we create together the society we want to live in, where people with disability are fully included in our homes, schools, workplaces, families and communities.”