The Royal Commission has made 222 recommendations for the government to adopt. One of the immediate actions that the Albanese government plans to take is implementing safeguards for people living with disabilities, following the release of a Royal Commission report on September 29. Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth expressed concern about the lack of sufficient safeguards for people with disabilities in the services they receive.
Currently, disabled individuals outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) do not have the same level of safeguarding as those under the scheme. This issue was highlighted by Ian Waller, a person with epilepsy who is legally blind and has a guide dog. He emphasized the need for equal access and opportunities for disabled individuals in various aspects of society, such as the workplace, government, NDIS, and the community.
The Royal Commission made numerous recommendations in areas such as advocacy, guardianship, schooling, employment, the justice system, housing, and human rights law. The report suggested enacting a Disability Rights Act to embody the principles outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also called for the phasing out and eventual end of segregated education by 2051, as well as the establishment of legal frameworks to reduce restrictive practices. Additionally, the Commission recommended raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 and ensuring that people with disabilities working in Australian Disability Enterprises are paid at least the minimum wage by 2034.
The findings of the Commission were based on nearly 10,000 stories of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation experienced by people with disabilities. The report revealed that more than half of individuals with disabilities have been physically or sexually abused since the age of 15, compared to 38 percent of adults without disabilities. It also highlighted the need for a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disabilities and protects their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The Australian Network on Disability CEO, Corene Strauss, described the report as distressing but significant in highlighting the need for attitudinal changes towards people with disabilities. Minister Rishworth stated that the Albanese government will carefully review the report and work with the states and territories to ensure the inclusion and participation of disabled individuals in society. Shadow Minister for Social Services Michael Sukkar has also called for a meaningful and thorough response from the government to the report.