Albo’s update on bombshell report

The Albanese government has released its long-awaited initial response to the disability royal commission’s landmark report, but is yet to commit to a key recommendation.

The government is still considering whether to establish a Disability Rights Act that would enshrine the international human rights of people with disabilities in Australian law.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Health Minister Mark Butler have released the initial response to the on Wednesday

The federal government has primary or shared responsibility for 172 of the 222 recommendations and has accepted in full 13 of those recommendations, and in principle a further 117.

The government on Wednesday announced an extra $370m for the sector on top of the $3bn allotted in the past three budgets.

Of the new funding, $227.6m would be spent to implement a new specialist disability program.

States and territories will also be releasing their responses to recommendations on Wednesday.

The shocking report, published last September, was the culmination of 4½ years of investigation and nearly 10,000 testimonies to the $600m Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

It exposed widespread rates of abuse and neglect being experienced by millions of Australians living with disability.

Among the report’s recommendations was a call to end segregated schooling by 2051, while the six commissioners were split on whether or not to phase out group homes.

The peak body for people with disability, People with Disability Australia, called for the government to consider 19 policies in response to the royal commission’s recommendations.

Among them were a Disability Rights Act, a Minister for Disability Inclusion, a time frame and transition plan to phase out segregated housing, education, and employment, and a redress scheme.

Mr Shorten said the government’s initial response to the report would be a driving force towards a safer, accessible and inclusive Australia.

“We have not wasted a second in getting the NDIS back on track so we can deliver a

Scheme that people can trust and that can safely and effectively support the people who

need it most.”

Ms Rishworth said the government’s response was an important step to realising the vision for an inclusive Australia where people with disability can live with dignity, equality and respect.

“Ensuring people with disability are at the centre of the work we do is paramount and,

importantly, our Government did not wait for the findings of the Royal Commission to begin

significant investment into improving the lives of people with disability in Australia.

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The commissioners described systemic rates of violence and discrimination facing about 4.4 million Australians, highlighted shortcomings across all levels of society and handed down 222 recommendations for governments.

The recommendations included a response from the disability ministers and federal and state level to respond to the report by March 31.

The Commonwealth and the states and territories then announced in March they would defer their response till mid-year.

* If you are concerned about the abuse and neglect of people with disability contact the

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline – which is a free, independent and

confidential service for reporting – on 1800 880 052.