The final report of the royal commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability calls for urgent and sweeping reforms to ensure human rights protections, dignity and equality for people with disability and their families.
The 12-volume report with 222 recommendations was delivered to governor-general David Hurley on Thursday and made public after being tabled in parliament today.
Among the royal commission’s top recommendations include the creation of a new government portfolio for disability and a dedicated Department of Disability Equality and Inclusion.
The royal commission said a minister for disability inclusion responsible for national leadership on relevant policies and programs was also in order.
Royal commission chair Ronald Sackville’s foreword in the final report said there was no point to all the work undertaken in the inquiry if it did not lead to transformational change.
“We have identified numerous policy issues that must be addressed by governments, institutions and the community as a whole if the aspirations expressed in the terms of reference are to be achieved,” Sackville said.
“The human rights of people with disability have informed all our work and underpin a great many of our recommendations. The Australian community’s acceptance of, and respect for, the human rights of people with disability are essential elements in realising the aspirations that led to the establishment of the royal commission,” he said.
An initial read of the the royal commission report has pinpointed about 99 recommendations related to the federal government only.
Another 67 estimated recommendations call for reforms to joint state, territory and commonwealth issues.
About 55 recommendations are aimed at the state and territory jurisdictions only.
One recommendation is targeted at the non-government sector.
The royal commission was established in 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability.
The group conducted 32 public hearings, more than 700 community engagement activities, 1,785 private sessions and 12 policy roundtables or workshops with stakeholders.
Commissioners appointed to lead the work included Barbara Bennett, Dr Rhonda Galbally, Ngaanyatjarra and Pitjantjatjara woman from Western Australia Andrea Mason, Dr Alastair McEwin and John Ryan.
Commissioners Galbally and McEwin are people with disability.
A note in the report said that the six commissioners took a unanimous position as to the critical measures needed to bring about a more inclusive society. The commissioners’ views did differ on a small number of issues, it added.
Other key recommendations asked for a new National Disability Commission as an independent statutory authority, a new framework and national principles for supported decision-making, and “major reforms to mainstream systems” that will remove barriers people with disability face to access inclusive education, open employment, and accessible, appropriate and safe housing.
All Australian governments have been advised by the royal commission to publish a formal response to the report recommendations by March 31.
Chair Sackville wrote in the final report that the transformational reforms identified in the 222 recommendations relied on community attitudes towards people with disability to “fundamentally change”.
“Advocacy by people with disability and disability representative organisations, so often referred to in this report, will have a crucial role to play in ensuring our recommendations are accepted and implemented, thereby bringing about the far-reaching changes in laws, policies and practices so badly needed,” Sackville said.
“The Australian government is primarily responsible for implementing our recommendations, but it is not exclusively responsible. A coordinated strategy is required, involving governments and non-government agencies. Indeed the responsibility for reforms is shared by the entire Australian community.”
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