The Disability Community Royal Commission response was the opportunity for the Labor Government and the community’s work to achieve disability justice. They have failed.
The disability community has been waiting for the government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission for 11 months. Given the length of time, the disability community was hoping for a comprehensive and considered response. What they have received appears to be neither.
The Labor government has not committed to ending the cycle of segregation that so often leads to the abuse, violence, neglect, and exploitation of disabled people uncovered by the Commission. They made little to no mention of education, housing, or employment in their response.
Disabled people could have had genuine representation in government, but the Anthony Albanese government have confirmed that they will not support the recommendation to implement a federal Disability Minister.
There is also no action in sight from the government on issues such as forced sterilisation and marriage inequality for disabled people, which continue to plague our society in 2024.
The cycle of abuse, neglect and violence is ongoing and this response does nothing to set up a frame work to stop or even monitor it.
As stated by Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Rights:
“Labor claims there is no need to implement the core recommendations of the DRC, stating they are addressing these issues through other work. By ‘other work,’ do they mean cutting $14.4 billion from the NDIS? That clearly does not help disabled people.
“The only acceptable response to the profound injustices uncovered by the DRC is action. Labor’s continued inaction disrespects the immense contributions and emotional labour of the disability community to the DRC.
“We need the Government to commit funding for the radical transformation required to end ableism and discrimination in this country. We need a Minister for Disability to ensure this reform happens. We need collective liberation: to immediately raise the DSP, and end segregation in our workplaces, schools, and homes.
“Disabled people will no longer accept being kept out of view, restrained to our beds, locked in institutions, or subjected to ableism and segregation by government policies. Labor’s lacklustre response to the DRC shows they are willing to let these injustices continue, in order to balance their budget.
“Only 13 out of 222, or less than 6%, of the recommendations were accepted. Disabled people and our families gave so much to this commission, and this government has given so little in return.”
