Senate debates

Monday, 4 December 2017

Motions

Disability Services

4:57 pm

Photo of Jordon Steele-JohnJordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to inform the chamber that Senator Brown will also sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of senators Brown and Siewert, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) 3 December 2017 is the 25th anniversary of International Day of People with Disability, with the theme of 'Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all', premised on the resilience of those in vulnerable situations and the reduction of their exposure and vulnerability to economic, social, and environmental shocks, as well as disasters,

  (ii) the Community Affairs References Committee held an inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings during the 44th Parliament,

  (iii) on 25 November 2015, the Community Affairs References Committee tabled its report containing 30 recommendations, the headline recommendation calling for a royal commission into the issue,

  (iv) on 2 March 2017, the Government responded to the recommendations in this report, where it refused to commit to a royal commission, and

  (v) in May 2017, more than 120 academics from around Australia signed an open letter urging the Prime Minister to act on the headline recommendation of the Senate inquiry, and a civil society statement from Disabled People's Organisations Australia and endorsed by 163 organisations and groups and over 380 individuals called for a royal commission; and

(b) calls on the Government to reconsider its decision and commit to a royal commission into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential settings.

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