Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Preventing Family Violence) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed the motion is seconded. In 2019, we don't need to read another story in the media about horrific abuse and we don't need to wait another minute; what we need is a royal commission. Every single member of this House has had in their electorate office parents and people with a disability. You all know exactly what we are talking about. You have all sat with these people and you've given them the assurances they need.

It should be a point of deep shame for the conservative government that the parliament is again debating the need to call for a royal commission to inquire into the violence and abuse of people with a disability. We already know that 90 per cent of women with an intellectual disability have been sexually assaulted and, for 60 per cent of these women, it occurs before they are 18. We all know that children with disability are at least three times more likely to experience abuse than any other children. It is time for a royal commission. The facts and the stories are numerous and horrific—and we all know them. For far too long this Liberal government have heard the calls of people begging them to take the steps to address the terrible abuse of people with disability and they have resolutely done nothing at all.

In May 2017, the Leader of the Opposition announced that the Labor government, upon forming government, would establish a royal commission into the violence and abuse of people with a disability. But here we are, almost two years later, still trying to convince the conservatives that the abuse of people with disability is a serious problem and it must be addressed. We all know the power and the importance of a royal commission. This issue, and the prevalence of the abuse, deserves nothing less than a royal commission. That is what we are asking for on behalf of the thousands and thousands and thousands of people that we all see on a regular basis in our electoral offices.

A royal commission is necessary, as the Leader of the Opposition said, for many reasons—some of which he's outlined—but a royal commission will also improve services and supports into the future, including fixing some of the problems with the rollout of the NDIS. Labor has carefully considered the recommendations of the Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect against people with a disability. The first recommendation of that report called for a royal commission into the abuse of people with disability. It is an important statement to have been made.

We also say very strongly that Labor believes that people with a disability have the right to be heard and to be believed. We will not allow these sickening crimes to be swept under the carpet while the conservatives continue to bury their heads in the sand. The Liberals think that the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework will be sufficient. No, it won't. A royal commission is required—nothing less. We owe it to the many thousands of people that we talk to constantly. We owe it to the many thousands of people with disability that have experienced abuse and neglect. We owe it to the many thousands of parents whose children have a disability and that have gone through the horror that the Leader of the Opposition outlined of knowing that their child was abused. Try to put yourself in those families' shoes. If you put yourself in their shoes, you will know that nothing less than a royal commission is required on this issue. We stated it clearly two years ago that that's what's required. I say to the government: please listen, if not to me or the Leader of the Opposition or this side of the House, to the people and the families that you have spoken to in your electoral offices, and stay true and strong to the things that you've said to those people. You know a royal commission is required. I ask you to agree to one.

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