Government response to the Disability Royal Commission
The Australian Government has responded to the Disability Royal Commission, accepting 13 recommendations fully, 117 in principle, and allocating $369M for initial implementation measures. Implementation will be monitored every six months.
The Australian Government has released its official response to the Disability Royal Commission – an extensive inquiry into the abuse, neglect, and exploitation experienced by people with disability.
About the response
Of the 222 recommendations aimed at reforming disability services and policies, the Australian Government have:
- Accepted in full 13 recommendations
- Accepted in principle 117 recommendations
- Is further considering 36 recommendations
- Noted 6 recommendations
Most of the 13 recommendations accepted in full relate to legislative changes, with work already underway on others, such as updating Australia's Disability Strategy.
Recommendations accepted in principle include those to strengthen the Disability Discrimination Act, and improve access to information and interpreters, including Auslan.
The government allocated $369 million to support the initial implementation of these measures, including $227.6 million dedicated to the employment program. Additionally, the government acknowledged the ongoing role of specialist educational settings and left decisions regarding the future of segregated schooling to state and territory government.
What’s next?
Now the Government have formally responded to the recommendations of the DRC, the focus will shift to the implementation of the accepted recommendations.
Progress on implementing the recommendations will be reported every six months to a ministerial council, ensuring ongoing oversight and coordination across federal, state, and territory levels.
The Government also plans to conduct further consultations on more complex recommendations, such as those related to segregated education and supported employee wages.
Read the full response on the Department of Social Services website.
Australian Government Response
- Full version of the Government Response: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-disability-royal-commission-support-services/australian-government-response-to-the-disability-royal-commission
- Summary version of the Response: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-disability-royal-commission-support-services/summary-of-the-australian-government-response-to-the-disability-royal-commission
Accessible versions of the Australian Government Response
- An Easy Read version of the Government Response summary is available
- An accessible video summary, including Auslan, of the Government Response summary is available
- A Braille version of the Government Response summary is available
- A large print version of the Government Response summary is available