Page 828 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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a significant effort put into campaigns that we know have worked in other places and other contexts about maintaining safety. That is what has been behind this campaign. I am confident that the Canberra community is becoming increasingly aware of light rail and what it means for them particularly as they travel along or cross over the light rail line.
Disability services—government support
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Disability. Minister, could you please update the Assembly on the progress of establishing the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question and for his interest in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
People with a disability deserve a life of choice, dignity and respect, like anyone else. The ACT government has long supported a royal commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability, and acknowledges that a royal commission instigated by the commonwealth is the best way to confront the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
The voices of people with disability have been silenced on this issue for too long, and it was clear in the days and weeks surrounding the votes in the parliament of Australia on this issue just how widespread and how common the despicable crime of abuse of people with disability has been.
The ACT government strongly advocated for the voices of people with disability to be heard throughout this process, including in the drafting of the royal commission’s terms of reference. It has been a positive step to see the draft terms of reference broadly reflect what Disabled People’s Organisations Australia called for in its road map for the royal commission.
Through the Disability Reform Council, all states and territories reached the unanimous view that consultation on the terms of reference should take place over four weeks, to enable particularly people who have difficulty engaging in such processes, such as people with cognitive disability, and also people from rural and remote areas, to fully engage in the process. However, the federal Liberal government has chosen a limited window for consultation running for two weeks.
I recognise that some people who have been advocating for this for a long time are saying, “Get on with it.” In light of this, I strongly encourage people with disability and their families, carers and advocates to participate in the consultation via the Department of Social Services engage website.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, what action has the ACT government already taken to protect people with disability from abuse?
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