Federal government responds to disability royal commission, disability advocates ‘devastated’
The federal government has released it is initial response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. There are 5.5 million Australians living with a disability, and many in the community are reacting with disappointment.
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00:00Community radio presenter Poppy Mullins knows how important it is for people with disability
00:09to be heard.
00:10People want to share their experiences.
00:14At school it was difficult to get the support she needed.
00:16Often there would be lessons where I would be so angry that I was no longer able to concentrate
00:23on the work.
00:24She and thousands of others shared their stories with the Disability Royal Commission.
00:30Now the government has released its initial response to the inquiry.
00:34Our government is absolutely committed to the vision set out in the Disability Royal
00:39Commission.
00:40Of the 222 recommendations, the Commonwealth Government has primary or shared responsibility
00:46for 172.
00:48117 were accepted in principle.
00:52Only 13 were accepted in full.
00:54We agree with many of the recommendations and we've got to think about a few more of
00:58the issues that are raised there.
00:59The government says establishing a Disability Rights Act and a complaints mechanism requires
01:04further consideration.
01:06There was no firm position on creating a disability minister or phasing out special schools.
01:13Reaction from the community was damning.
01:15Only 13 recommendations accepted is completely disproportionate to the stale of the neglect
01:23and abuse that has been experienced and shared.
01:27That's an insult to the disability community and it is not an insult which we as a community
01:34will accept.
01:35Change was never going to happen overnight and the government has to negotiate with the
01:39states and territories but there are now some people with disability questioning was dredging
01:45up their pain really worth it.