Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make my contribution to the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023 and Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023.

The significance of these bills can't be understated. As a liberal democracy, we value the fundamental right of an individual to live a life of dignity and respect, a life free of neglect, abuse and exploitation. All individuals deserve to benefit from the collective success of our society. That applies to all Australians, including those Australians living with a disability. We hold these to be some of our fundamental principles.

Unfortunately, we know that these principles are not always upheld. Recently, the report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was released. For 4½ years, the royal commission listened to communities all across Australia. It held 32 public hearings and 1,785 private sessions and received almost 8,000 submissions and 18,000 phone inquiries. The final report handed down is 5,000 pages with 222 recommendations.

The work done by the royal commission has been the cumulative work and input of thousands of Australians over many years, and the details and the stories that have come out of this extensive process point to a simple fact: we can do better because we must do better. I commend the work of the commissioners and their staff for all they did to bring this to light. At times the evidence provided was harrowing, and the meticulous and thoughtful deliberations and recommendations will help the government address the issues in the system so it truly supports those people with disabilities and their families. The government is committed to ensuring that Australia not just in principle but in practice is a country where all Australians can fully participate and realise their potential and where all Australians can have a decent quality of life, free of abuse and neglect.

In 2007 the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened for signatures, with Australia becoming the first of the signatories. The convention has the simple yet profound purpose to promote, protect and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the full human rights and freedoms and to protect their inherent dignity. In 2008, it came into force here in Australia.

Additionally, the National Disability Strategy was introduced in 2010, with the most recent framework being implemented from 2021 to 2031. The NDIS was established in 2013 along with its own code of conduct and legislative framework. While we still have a way to go, Australia has moved forward over the past few decades, since the introduction of the Disability Services Act in 1986 almost 40 years ago. The bills being debated here today will ensure we can do better by repealing and replacing the act, which has become outdated and restrictive.

Importantly, these changes have undergone considerable public consultation to ensure that they work for Australians with a disability. We know that listening to those who have been affected by these changes means that we will get better outcomes. Public consultation informed the draft bill, and a second round of consultation informed the final bills before the House today. These bills will ensure that there's appropriate legislation that will give effect to our obligations under the UN CRPD and ensure a single, unifying piece of legislation authorises funding for disability services outside the NDIS.

Currently, funding arrangements for many disability programs and services rely on funding being authorised under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations of 1997. Simply, the current act did not envisage the types of programs we have today and their delivery functions. The alternate arrangements, to use the FFSP regulations, cause significant administrative delays which impact the implementation of programs and services for those with a disability.

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