Page 968 - Week 03 - Thursday, 23 March 2017

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I certainly take the personal view that I want to see an increase in employment opportunities and retention for people with a disability into the future.

It has been fantastic to see great community discussion already on this important issue. On 20 March the Canberra Times published an article highlighting some public discussion on disability employment issues. Disability employment advocate Bill Gamack stated that more needs to be done for disability employment. He said:

People with disability generally aren’t expected to achieve highly, particularly in the area of employment and building a career …

This subject of low expectations is an unfortunate truth and something people struggle to discuss, but without first acknowledging this we can never expect to tackle it …

A federal public servant with autism, Jeanette Purkis, also commented on the issue, stating:

If they can do the job, give them support and development and career advancement opportunities too.

Ms Purkis also highlighted the specific issues people with autism have in gaining employment. She said:

Many autistic people have heightened sensory experiences which non-autistic people tend not to.

This can mean fluorescent lights cause physical pain and background noise in an open plan office is magnified and makes it hard for them to hear their manager or colleagues.

It is great to see the discussion starting, and I encourage all disability advocates, employers, people with a disability and the general community to have a say. I would also like to congratulate the ACT government for their initiatives thus far to encourage disability employment in the ACT. The ACT has established the ACT government’s office for disability and disability reference group, and these bodies will provide policy advice on disability issues.

We must continue to take steps towards increasing access to the workplace for people with a disability, and I once again welcome the inquiry into disability employment adopted by the health, ageing and community services standing committee of the Assembly. I am therefore moving that order of the day No 1 relating to disability employment be discharged from the notice paper.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Executive business—precedence

Ordered that executive business be called on forthwith.


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