The Community Affairs References Committee has today tabled a report on the inquiry into the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill.
The Disability Services and Inclusion Bill seeks to repeal the Disability Services Act 1986 and provide legislative authority for new and existing spending on disability-related programs outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John welcomes the repeal of the Disability Services Act 1986, however, has submitted additional comments to the report that indicate his intention to move significant amendments to the legislation.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services said:
“This bill requires significant amendments to do justice to the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
“It is imperative that this opportunity to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 does not pass by without doing everything we can to end the cycle of segregation that too many disabled people find themselves trapped within.
“It’s time for the government to put into law timeframes for ending the cycle of segregation. Disabled people will no longer accept being kept out of view; we will not accept government policies that reinforce segregated employment and education any longer.
“We need to ensure that the human rights of disabled people are upheld in all services that would be funded under this bill, and we need to ensure that disabled people are included in the decision-making processes.
“Many in our community welcome the establishment of a Code of Conduct, however, what I have heard from the community is there is still concern about the independence of those reviewing breaches and the process for handling complaints.
“Getting this Act right could be transformational in the lives of disabled people.”