2026 South Australian State Election

Key Election Asks

Independent Advocacy

There is a critical need to invest in independent disability advocacy services. Do you commit to making (or advocating for) a State Government investment in independent individual, systemic, and representative disability advocacy in South Australia with priority given to rolling out independent individual advocacy services immediately? 

Housing

Accessible housing is needed to support ending the housing crisis. Do you commit to implementing the National Construction Code 2022 Livable Housing Design Standard in full, ending all unnecessary blanket exemptions in April 2026, and implementing an Accessible Housing Overlay alongside the Affordable Housing Overlay? 

Education

Every child will thrive in an inclusive education system. Do you commit to inclusive education in South Australia, including through co-designing an Inclusive Education Strategy; investing in inclusive education initiatives in schools; upskilling principals, educators, and support staff with specific training and capacity building programs; and not establishing any new “special” schools or units? 

Disability Royal Commission

Urgent action is needed to implement the Disability Royal Commission recommendations. Do you commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound State Implementation Action Plan for the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations with clear designated responsibilities as a high priority action within the first year of the next term of parliament?

Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

Co-design a Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan with disability community. Do you commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound Implementation Plan for all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence and an Associated Action Plan to target the higher prevalence of incidents and the deficits in appropriate services and supports for South Australians with disability as a top priority? 

Critical need to invest in independent advocacy

Independent disability advocacy services are critically important for safeguarding South Australians with disability from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They also play an essential role in enabling people with disability to live meaningful lives in our community. Yet, South Australia is the only state or territory where the State Government fails to meet its responsibility to fund independent disability advocacy services.

JFA Purple Orange is calling on all parties and candidates in the 2026 State Election to commit to investing in independent disability advocacy services in South Australia via a long-term and stable funding model.

It is extremely disappointing that the clear recommendation of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability (DRC) for this investment continues to be ignored. Recommendation 6.21 states that “state and territory governments should ensure long term and stable funding for disability advocacy programs in their jurisdictions to meet demand.” The DRC recognised that all people with disability should have access to high-quality and well-resourced advocacy services and that there is significant unmet demand.

Other states have responded to this recommendation by increasing their investments (1) while the South Australian Government continues to evade its longstanding responsibility (2) to provide joint funding alongside the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, this has been the record of successive South Australian governments, with the exception of a small investment (3) made when the horrific death of Ann Marie Smith put the issue firmly in the public spotlight. (4)

What is urgently needed

JFA Purple Orange strongly endorses the adoption of a funding approach based on the New South Wales Government’s Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP), which arose from an extensive 2019 review by that state’s then Ageing and Disability Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald. The model covers three core streams: Independent Individual Disability Advocacy (5), Independent Systemic Disability Advocacy (6), and Independent Representative Disability Advocacy (for membership or peer organisations) (7).

In NSW, the annual funding amount is $14 million (8), with half the funding provided to Independent Individual Disability Advocacy and a quarter for each of the other two streams. JFA Purple Orange has modelled (9) a proportionate South Australian program at $3.4 million per year in 2025-26 – a very modest investment given the life-changing – and potentially life-saving – benefits it will have. The program should include specialist services for people with disability from First Nations communities and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as those with complex communication needs and those residing in institutional care and aged care facilities.

This is a sensible initial approach that would be quick and easy to establish across all regions of South Australia. Then, with robust data collection – another DRC recommendation – the roll out can be monitored for met and unmet need and adjusted accordingly.

Why it is urgently needed

South Australians with disability need access to high-quality, well-resourced, independent advocacy services. The value of these services cannot be overstated, including that they:

play a significant role in preventing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
support people to access and use mainstream services;
address the issues raised by the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence, including ensuring services are accessible and inclusive for everyone;
are cost-effective and efficient in resolving issues in a timely way before they escalate;
act without any conflicts of interest due to their independence from other service providers;
enable greater opportunities for people with disability to live active and valued lives in the community, including increasing their economic, social, and cultural participation; and
have a positive effect in supporting families and providing communities with confidence that people will be supported across a broad range of matters when they need it.

Key question

Do you commit to making (or advocating for) a State Government investment in independent individual, systemic, and representative disability advocacy in South Australia with priority given to rolling out independent individual advocacy services immediately?

Contact

For further information, please contact Selena Maddeford, Manager – Policy and Projects, on 08 8373 8394 or selenam@purpleorange.org.au.

Notes

1 For example, the Queensland Government responded to the DRC recommendation by committing an additional $1.6 million over 17 months to its existing program of $4 million per year. For further information, visit https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99665#.

2 The first Commonwealth-State Disability Agreement gave both the federal and state and territory governments joint responsibility to fund disability advocacy in 1991. Although some confusion emerged during the transition to the NDIS, Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031, which South Australia is a signatory to, clearly lists individual and systemic disability advocacy services as a shared funding responsibility (page 68). South Australia is the only jurisdiction that is out of step with this position.

3 In September 2020, the South Australian Government announced $1.2 million over three years for a state-wide advocacy service. Uniting Communities Law Centre was the successful tenderer and began operating the service in December 2020. At just $400,000 per year, the funding fell far short of meeting the need and it was especially difficult for people in regional areas to access the service. The funding was not renewed, leaving South Australia with no state-funded independent disability advocacy services. For more information, visit https://dhs.sa.gov.au/news/article-archives/2021/advocacy-helping-south-australians-living-with-disability-get-support.

4 As a result of media attention surrounding Ann Marie Smith’s death, the South Australian Government appointed a Safeguarding Taskforce to examine gaps in oversight and safeguarding for people with disability in South Australia. It found the lack of state funding for disability advocacy was a safeguarding gap. For further information, the full report is available at https://www.opa.sa.gov.au/documents/disability-advocate/safeguarding-taskforce-report-sept2020.pdf.

5 The Independent Individual Disability Advocacy stream funds professional advocates to work one-to-one with people with disability to address an issue they are facing, particularly when they need assistance to deal with a crisis circumstance. They work to uphold the rights and interests of people with disability and address instances of discrimination, abuse, and neglect.

6 The Independent Systemic Disability Advocacy stream funds organisations to research, monitor, and influence long-term positive changes at a systems and policy level to eliminate the ongoing barriers, discrimination, exclusion, abuse, and neglect experienced by people with disability while advancing their chances to live active meaningful lives and achieve their goals.

7 The Independent Representative Disability Advocacy stream funds membership or peer organisations to support people with disability, including specific cohorts with shared interests, to influence positive change, share information and knowledge, and build individual and collective advocacy skills to address specific issues.

8 For more information about the NSW Government’s Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP), visit https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/community-inclusion/disability-and-inclusion/disability-advocacy-futures-program.html. To read the 2019 review by the then NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald, visit https://ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au/documents/reports-and-submissions/review-into-disabilist-adocacy-nsw.pdf.

9 JFA Purple Orange has used the approach taken in the Productivity Commission’s 2017 NDIS Costs Study Report based on proportional population and a 50:50 funding split between the Commonwealth and State to estimate a starting budget of $3.4 million per year for 2025-26. The Productivity Commission’s report is available at https://assets.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/ndis-costs/report/ndis-costs.pdf. Once established, this amount should be adjusted to reflect robust data about met and unmet demand.

Accessible housing needed to end housing crisis

All Australians should have an accessible, affordable, and safe place to call home. Housing should be understood, first and foremost, as a basic human right for all individuals and as essential social infrastructure for communities. Housing and planning policy must reflect this and ensure sufficient investment is dedicated to delivering on this objective for all Australians experiencing the current housing and cost of living crises, including people with disability.

JFA Purple Orange welcomes the recent surge in planning activities and housing developments across the state, which is an essential part of addressing the shortage of housing stock in South Australia. However, we must not be under the illusion that supply alone is the ‘silver bullet’ to ending the housing and cost of living crises. We must ensure that house builds are high quality and fit for purpose so that they are accessible and affordable to all South Australians.

The majority of our population need, or will need, accessible features in their homes to ensure they can enter, move around, and live in their homes as independently as possible; this includes people with disability, older people, people with chronic illness, and people with temporary mobility issues. Our rapidly ageing population also underscores the importance of this.

If we do not build homes that are accessible and fit for purpose now, South Australians will continue to pay exuberant amounts to retrofit homes,1 or else clog up the health system, be forced into institutionalised settings, or become homeless. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 44.8 per cent of Australians with disability lived in a household in the lowest two income quintiles in 2022, compared to 24.5 per cent of non-disabled people.2 If we are to end the housing affordability crisis, affordable and accessible stock must be interwoven.

JFA Purple Orange, alongside the South Australian disability community, welcomed the State Government’s commitment to implementing the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 Livable Housing Design (LHD) Standard for all Class 1a and 2 buildings from October 2024. This was an important first step toward addressing the need for more accessible housing and will ensure that residential properties are easier to enter and navigate in and around, as well as allowing further adaptations to be made later to suit a resident and allow them to age in place.

However, the availability of unnecessary blanket exemptions for the first 18 months undermines the NCC’s intention and the enormous amount of work that was undertaken across the nation to design the LHD Standard. Consequently, many South Australians will continue to be left without an accessible, affordable, and safe place to live. These blanket exemptions must end in April 2026 – the housing sector has had more than enough time to adapt.

JFA Purple Orange acknowledges the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s (NDIS) introduction of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in July 2016 aims to create more living options for people with disability ensuring choice and control, as well as strengthening the housing sector. However, the NDIS does not provide housing for the vast majority of participants with only 3.4 per cent currently funded for SDA and just two per cent actually living in SDA dwellings.3 This leaves more than 96 per cent of NDIS participants, and millions more Australians with disability, to navigate the mainstream housing market where the supply of accessible and affordable dwellings is well below current demand.

Therefore, JFA Purple Orange strongly believes that South Australia should adopt an Accessible Housing Overlay that can be applied to new developments to boost the supply of accessible housing, while ensuring these dwellings are not confined to segregated or congregated sites. We believe a combination of overlays (affordable and accessible) with mandatory minimum requirements (LHD Standard) and early proactive planning in partnership with developers would generate significant additional community benefits, especially within brown and greenfield developments, and play a vital role in ending the current housing crisis. An example draft Accessible Housing Overlay is attached.
It is time to work together to end the housing crisis and address the severe lack of accessible and affordable housing options for people with disability and our aging population, enabling people to live in suitable and safe housing options of their choice, free from group houses and institutional settings. Secure housing is the foundation that enables so many other elements of life including employment, education, healthcare, social connections, and much more. Investing in high-quality, fit-for-purpose housing pays dividends for every other part of the budget.

Key question

Do you commit to implementing the National Construction Code 2022 Livable Housing Design Standard in full, ending all unnecessary blanket exemptions in April 2026, and implementing an Accessible Housing Overlay alongside the Affordable Housing Overlay?

Contact

For further information, please contact Selena Maddeford, Manager – Policy and Projects, on 08 8373 8394 or selenam@purpleorange.org.au.

Notes

1 The cost of designing and building with ‘Silver Level’ accessibility features based on Livable Housing Australia’s (LHA) Livable Housing Design Guidelines from the start is up to 22 times more efficient than retrofitting later. For more information, visit Livable Housing Australia (LHA), ‘Livable Housing Design Guidelines’, fourth edition, 2017, pages 5 & 10, available at https://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/lhaguidlineseditionno4-2017.pdf.

2 For more information, visit Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), ‘Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings’, 2022, available at https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release.

3 For more information, visit National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), ‘Quarterly report to disability ministers Q1 2025-26 Full report’, September 2025, available at https://www.ndis.gov.au/publications/quarterly-reports.

Case studies

Jim, a 39-year-old man, had a stroke and then had to move house, along with his wife and kids, because their home was inaccessible. They had to move to a different suburb, to a house that was not their home, away from their neighbours and friends, away from the kids’ school and friends.

Stuart, a 21-year-old lad who was living with a mate, about to take over the family farming business, playing cricket one day and celebrating victory with his friends, goes to work and has a workplace accident leaving him with a C3-C4 spinal injury. Not only devastated by the change and what his future looks like, he was stuck in Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre for a year while the family home, which he had to move back into, was retrofitted. Now, living on the family farm, he reports significant isolation from his friends and community as visiting friends has become so burdensome.

Kim, a 27-year-old netballer and first homeowner, blew out her knee playing the game she loves, reported significant stress in accessing her home, going to the toilet, showering, and moving up and down the hallway independently whilst she recovered. A temporary injury made that much harder due to small inaccessible features in her home that put significant stress on her relationship before marriage.

Sam, 35-year-old, newlywed, first homeowner, and father of a 2-year-old, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease MND after failing to consistently meet fitness tests at his local football club. Sam and his wife were marathon runners who aimed to compete in marathons across the world, an item on their bucket list that they had started doing a few years before diagnosis. But his life was turned upside down when they discovered that MND kills one third of people within a year and more than half within two. They had to uproot their daughter, sell their home that was going to cost too much to retrofit alongside the medical costs and were forced to look for financial assistance from their family and their community to assist them on their journey to live the best possible life, for as long as possible, with their young daughter.

Trevor, 76 years old, avid gardener and grandfather lives in a medium sized house on a relatively large block that he owned with his late wife for years. He raised a family in this home and has no desire to ever leave. Whilst his health has declined in recent years and he has been diagnosed with cancer, with a few surgeries required, the house and particularly the garden is what keeps him going. It is the family home and whilst his kids are all grown with their own children, it is the place where they all come together, and the grandchildren have room to play and explore. It is also within walking distance to everything that he needs; family is only a few blocks away, fantastic neighbours who provide him with both security and safeguarding as well as connection with the community. Trevor has a nurse visit a few days a week in the home and is an active volunteer at an Elders Association down the road.

Unfortunately, since surgery, his balance is not what it used to be, with some days worse than others. Trevor has a large step entrance, a shower with a heavy screen and a step and will need to install grabrails in the bathroom and toilet. Unfortunately, Trevor will not be able to pay for these costly changes when they are needed but expresses that the day he is forced to move from his home, will be the day he “dies”.

Example of a draft Accessible Housing Overlay Code Amendment (SA Planning and Design Code)

Below, we set out an example of an Accessible Housing Overlay based on the existing Affordable Housing Overlay in the South Australian Planning and Design Code.

Draft example of Code Amendment:

Insert:

Accessible Housing Overlay

Assessment Provisions (AP)

Desired Outcome (DO) Desired Outcome

Desired Outcome
DO 1	Housing that is accessible to, and readily adaptable for, a range of occupant and visitor useability needs is assured and promoted.
DO 2	High-quality accessible housing design and construction is assured and promoted.
DO 3	Accessible housing that is located in close proximity to accessible community infrastructure, including, but not limited to, public transport, healthcare, and education, is assured and promoted.
DO 4	Accessible housing that positively contributes to the liveability and inclusiveness of neighbourhoods is assured and promoted.
DO 5	Accessible housing is suited to a range of incomes including households with low to moderate incomes.
DO 6	Accessible housing that enables ageing in place is assured and promoted.
DO 7	Accessible housing caters for a variety of household structures.

Performance Outcomes (PO) and Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Criteria / Designated Performance Feature (DPF) Performance Outcome Deemed-to-Satisfy Criteria / Designated Performance Feature

Performance Outcome

Deemed-to-Satisfy Criteria / Designated Performance Feature

Land Division

PO 1.1

Development comprising 10 or more dwellings / allotments incorporates accessible housing.

DTS/DPF 1.1

Development results in 0-9 additional allotments / dwellings.

PO 1.2

Development comprising 10 or more dwellings or residential allotments provides housing suited to a range of accessibility needs.

DTS/DPF 1.2

Development comprising 10 or more dwellings or residential allotments includes a minimum of 15% accessible housing that complies with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Voluntary Livable Housing Design Standard, except where:

(a) Concessions or exemptions under the mandatory National Construction Code 2022 Livable Housing Design Standard apply to 15% or more dwellings or residential allotments, then 25% of remaining dwellings or residential allotments comply with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Voluntary Livable Housing Design Standard.

PO 1.3

Accessible housing is suited to a range of incomes including households with low to moderate incomes.

DTS/DPF 1.3

Affordable housing includes a minimum of 15% accessible housing that complies with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Voluntary Livable Housing Design Standard.

PO 1.4

Accessible housing is distributed throughout the development to avoid an overconcentration.

DTS/DPF 1.4

None are applicable.

Built Form and Character

PO 2.1

Accessible housing is designed to complement the design and character of residential development within the locality.

DTS/DPF 2.1

None are applicable.

Movement and Car Parking

PO 3.1

Sufficient accessible car parking is provided to meet the needs of occupants of accessible housing.

DTS/DPF 3.1

Dwellings constituting accessible housing are provided with accessible car parking of at least 1 car park per dwelling.

Procedural Matters (PM) – Referrals

The following table identifies classes of development / activities that require referral in this Overlay and the applicable referral body. It sets out the purpose of the referral as well as the relevant statutory reference from Schedule 9 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017.

Class of Development / Activity	Referral Body	Purpose of Referral	Statutory Reference
None.	None.	None.	None.

Every child will thrive in an inclusive education system

All children should be welcomed and supported at their local mainstream school or early childhood education centre and provided with a high-quality inclusive education alongside their peers. Sadly, for too many children and young people with disability in South Australia, this is not the case.

Decades of research and evidence tells us that inclusive education best prepares children and young people with disability for life and success. Research also demonstrates that students without disability benefit from an inclusive education. These benefits include a more positive sense of self, enhanced communication and language development, increased awareness of diversity, and a higher quality education that is better suited to individual needs. (1)

Despite this, children with disability currently face challenges in accessing mainstream education and are often subjected to discrimination, bullying, restrictive practices, many types of exclusionary discipline, gatekeeping, and segregation from their non-disabled peers. Recent legislative reforms (2) have fallen well short of addressing these ongoing problems.

Mainstream education must mean inclusive education, where every student is a valued member of their local school or early childhood community. The government needs to be much firmer in its position on this in line with its national and international obligations. (3)
JFA Purple Orange is calling on all parties and candidates in the 2026 State Election to commit to inclusive education in South Australia, including through co-designing an Inclusive Education Strategy; investing in inclusive education initiatives in schools; upskilling principals, educators, and support staff with specific training and capacity building programs; and not establishing any new ‘special’ schools or units anywhere in the state.

What is urgently needed

Transitioning to a genuinely inclusive education system in South Australia will not happen overnight. We recognise some South Australian families have made the decision for their child to attend ‘special’ schools or units, often because of poor previous experiences with mainstream provision or a lack of alternative options that meet a child’s needs. As the Disability Royal Commission emphasised, when a “choice” is made in the absence of alternative options, it constitutes a “coercive choice”. (4)

South Australia needs to kick start the transition with the development of an Inclusive Education Strategy that sets out a clear vision for change and maps the steps needed to build the capability of all mainstream schools to be authentically welcoming and inclusive. The Strategy should be genuinely co-designed and include funding for initiatives, allocated responsibilities, timeframes with measurable progress outcomes, and review mechanisms.

Alongside the development of a Strategy, the government should fund new inclusive education initiatives in schools drawing on and advancing the successes of the Inclusive School Communities project. (5) It should also invest in substantial upskilling (6) for principals, educators, and support staff across the state to help lay the foundations for change.

This work should also align with a new system of Foundational Supports including the Commonwealth’s proposed Thriving Kids initiative. Schools and early childhood education centres must be prepared to take up a central role in delivering Thriving Kids programs in ways that are fully accessible and inclusive of all children and families who will benefit.

These measures need to be underpinned by an explicit commitment to not establishing any new “special” schools or units with funding redirected to ensuring all mainstream schools and early childhood education centres are fully inclusive. Otherwise, the problems identified above will persist and demand for separate segregated provisions will become even more deeply entrenched. Decisive action is needed to end the belief that children with disability are best served through separate “special” things because evidence demonstrates this is false.

All South Australian children are best served when they learn and play alongside their peers without exclusion. Achieving this requires a significant shift in attitudes and a commitment to taking the steps required to make a successful transition knowing it will benefit everyone.

Key question

Do you commit to inclusive education in South Australia, including through co-designing an Inclusive Education Strategy; investing in inclusive education initiatives in schools; upskilling principals, educators, and support staff with specific training and capacity building programs; and not establishing any new “special” schools or units?

Contact

For further information, please contact Selena Maddeford, Manager – Policy and Projects, on 08 8373 8394 or selenam@purpleorange.org.au.

Notes

1 There is an abundance of research evidence that demonstrates inclusive education produces better academic, social, and life outcomes for children with and without disability. For more information, visit the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education website at https://acie.org.au/; the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education website at https://allmeansall.org.au/research/; and Alana’s summary document at http://alana.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/A_Summary_of_the_evidence_on_inclusive_education.pdf. Examples of recent academic research include, although are not limited to, Cole, et al., ‘The relationship of special education placement and student academic outcomes’, The Journal of Special Education, 2021, 54(4), pages 217-227; De Bruin, K, ‘Inclusive education: A review of the evidence’ in Linda Graham (ed), Inclusive Education in the 21st Century: Theory, Policy and Practice, 2nd edition, 2023, Routledge, chapter 6; Krämer et al., ‘Inclusive education of students with general learning difficulties: A meta-analysis’, Review of Educational Research, 2021, 91(3), pages 432–478; and Mansouri et al., ‘Comparison of academic and social outcomes of students with extensive support needs across placements’, Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2022.

2 Through the Education and Children’s Services (Inclusive Education) Amendment Bill 2025.

3 South Australia has endorsed Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021- 2031, which commits to building capacity in the delivery of inclusive education to improve educational outcomes. Further, Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, including Article 24, which requires all jurisdictions to ensure they have an inclusive education system providing opportunities on an equal basis without discrimination.

4 Per Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, ‘Final report – Volume 7: Inclusive education, employment and housing – Summary and recommendations’, September 2023, page 65, available at https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report.

5 For more information, refer to the Inclusive School Communities project, ‘Final Project Evaluation Report’, October 2020, available at https://inclusiveschoolcommunities.org.au/news/final-project-evaluation-report.

6 Upskilling is essential to building an inclusive education system because educators need the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support children and young people with disability, as well as all diverse learners. Training programs should be co-designed and delivered in partnership with people with disability. This training will be fundamental to uplifting the capacity of schools and early childhood education centres; challenging ingrained ableist attitudes, language, and beliefs that are pervasive across society; shifting low expectations of children with disability to enable them to pursue their goals and fulfil their potential; and ensuring inclusive practices and habits are embedded within every education setting.

Co-design a DFSV action plan with disability community

South Australians with disability experience higher rates of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) than the general population and this is unacceptable. It is also much harder for people with disability to find support services that meet their needs due to a range of barriers including inaccessibility, service fragmentation, and inadequately trained staff.

The recent South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence has underscored the deep impacts of this reality and made a comprehensive set of 136 recommendations to drive its vision of creating communities that are “respectful, equal, and free from violence” for all their members. (1)

JFA Purple Orange is calling on all parties and candidates in the 2026 State Election to commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound Implementation Plan for all recommendations of the Royal Commission, ensuring this is inclusive of all population groups, and an Associated Action Plan to address the higher prevalence of experiences for people with disability and uplift the capacity of services to respond to their needs.

An Associated Action Plan should provide dedicated resources to target specific areas of prevalence and deficits in appropriate supports including inaccessibility, discrimination, and exclusion. JFA Purple Orange emphasises the importance of an Associated Action Plan to achieve the greatest possible impacts in prevention, response, and recovery for people with disability. We also urge the next parliament to work with other priority groups identified in the Royal Commission’s Final Report to determine next steps to best address their needs.

What is urgently needed

As the Royal Commission highlighted, South Australia is the only state without a whole-of-government strategy to prevent and respond to domestic, family, and sexual violence. This undermines the coordination of efforts to address the problem.

Given this absence, and the need to provide a strong underpinning for the response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, an Implementation Plan and Associated Action Plan should be a priority.

These should be genuinely co-designed in partnership with communities and stakeholders, with an active co-design team involved in all stages of the process including monitoring, review, and evaluation of actions. They should reflect the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 (2) and be a whole-of-government response with actions that are matched to budget allocations, clear ministerial and agency responsibilities, and deadlines to ensure accountability for delivery.

Why it is urgently needed

Domestic, family, and sexual violence is pervasive across South Australia with people with disability experiencing much high rates of incidents than others. About 21 per cent of adults with disability have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15 compared to 13 per cent of people without disability. Further, about 16 per cent of adults with disability have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 compared to 9.6 per cent among non-disabled people. (3) Given this violence often occurs behind closed doors and the high barriers to reporting, it is widely recognised that data is likely to understate the prevalence. (4)

As well as the immediate impacts on safety and wellbeing, there are broader effects of domestic, family, and sexual violence including loss of housing, employment, and educational opportunities (all compounded by the general lack of inclusive accessible options), greater financial insecurity, and poorer physical and mental health.

Despite the increased rates of prevalence, people with disability report the domestic, family, and sexual violence sector is ill-equipped to respond to their needs due to inaccessible and fragmented services and a lack of staff training. This can force people to remain in unsafe situations without avenues to seek help. Others enter and re-enter services repeatedly. (5)

Actions to implement the Royal Commission’s recommendations are urgently needed and these co-designed plans will ensure a coordinated and comprehensive strategy that meets the needs for all those affected by the scourge of violence including people with disability.

Key question

Do you commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound Implementation Plan for all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence and an Associated Action Plan to target the higher prevalence of incidents and the deficits in appropriate services and supports for South Australians with disability as a top priority?

Contact

For further information, please contact Selena Maddeford, Manager – Policy and Projects, on 08 8373 8394 or selenam@purpleorange.org.au.

Notes

1 Visit South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence, ‘With courage: South Australia’s vision beyond violence – Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Report’, August 2025, page 5, available at https://www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1174695/With-Courage-Report.pdf.

2 South Australia has endorsed the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 including its principles, approach, and actions. JFA Purple Orange has separately called on the Federal Government to commit to an associated Action Plan to address the greater prevalence, unique experiences, and additional barriers that Australians with disability face, similar to the very welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan. The National Plan is available at https://www.dss.gov.au/system/files/resources/national-plan-end-violence-against-women-and-children-2022-2032.pdf.

3 Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), as reported in Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), ‘Family, domestic, and sexual violence: People with disability’, 28 February 2025, available at https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/population-groups/people-with-disability.

4 Including by the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence, ‘With courage: South Australia’s vision beyond violence – Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Report’, August 2025, page 63, available at https://www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1174695/With-Courage-Report.pdf.

5 For more information about the impacts of domestic, family, and sexual violence on people with disability and the inadequacies of services to meet their needs, visit South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence, ‘With courage: South Australia’s vision beyond violence – Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Report’, August 2025, available at https://www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1174695/With-Courage-Report.pdf; Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, ‘Final Report – Volume 3, Nature and extent of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation’, September 2023, available at https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report; Anne Summers’ research investigating the cost and consequences of domestic and family violence, including ‘The choice: Violence or poverty’ and ‘The cost of domestic violence to women’s employment and education’, available at https://www.annesummersresearch.com/; and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), ‘”Whatever it takes”: Access for women with disabilities to domestic and family violence services’, July 2017, available at https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/whatever-it-takes-access-for-women-with-disabilities-to-domestic-and-family-violence-services-final-report/read/.

Action required now on DRC recommendations

South Australians with disability have the right to be included in our communities on an equal basis with others and to live free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Yet, the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) (1) exposed widespread and harrowing accounts of people with disability being routinely subjected to grave violations of these rights.

After an extensive and thorough process, the DRC presented 222 recommendations in September 2023, describing the volume of recommendations as reflecting the “very many settings and contexts” in which violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation are still happening. (2)

Many South Australians contributed their time, energy, and stories to this process, often at great personal cost, with the expectation that governments would respond with urgency, transparency, and actions. More than two years on, they have been left feeling let down, disappointed, and bereft at the underwhelming response. The enormous value of the DRC will be reduced if real progress on the recommendations is not made soon.

JFA Purple Orange is calling on all parties and candidates in the 2026 State Election to commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound State Implementation Action Plan for the DRC’s recommendations as a high priority in 2026-27.

What is urgently needed

When the South Australian Government released its response to the DRC, it committed without qualification to only four of the 129 recommendations that fall within state responsibilities. (3) This signalled a lack of urgency that distressed many in the disability community. The recently released 2025 progress report only provides 24 South Australian-specific updates of any substantive nature (buried within a cumbersome national webpage and spreadsheet). (4)

South Australians with disability cannot afford further delay, deferral, or fragmented action on reforms that are designed to make them safer and enable their full participation in the economic, social, and cultural life of our communities to the benefit of everyone.

A State Implementation Action Plan should be genuinely co-designed in partnership with people with disability and other stakeholders, with an active co-design team involved in all stages of the process including monitoring, review, and evaluation of actions.

The plan should uphold the rights of people with disability to live with safety, dignity, and independence and access the same services and opportunities as non-disabled people. It is also extremely important the plan reflects and integrates the recommendations of the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence.

The plan’s actions need to be matched with adequate budget allocations for implementation, clear ministerial and agency responsibilities to ensure accountability for delivery, and deadlines, otherwise progress will continue to stagnate.

Some states and territories have already released implementation plans with dedicated funding, accountability mechanisms, and timelines. South Australia must not continue to fall behind these jurisdictions.

As a starting point, we suggest the South Australian Government and a co-design team look to the Western Australian Government’s Implementation Roadmap (5) and the New South Wales Government’s Implementation Plan. (6) While both could be significantly improved, especially through co-design and more accessible presentation, they have many of the key features that a South Australian plan should also adopt, including clearly identifying the responsible agency and the timeframes for each action. The West Australian version is notable for being very comprehensive, including recommendations the Government will consider further.

South Australia needs a comprehensive, whole-of-government plan as a matter of urgency – not piecemeal updates, vague joint responses with other governments, referrals to pre-DRC commitments, or general statements of principle. Indeed, it is well past time for South Australian political leaders to step up and demonstrate a genuine commitment to preventing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation and to invest in actions that will enable people with disability to live active, included, and valued lives in our communities.

Key question

Do you commit to delivering a co-designed, funded, and timebound State Implementation Action Plan for the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations with clear designated responsibilities as a high priority action within the first year of the next term of parliament?

Contact

For further information, please contact Selena Maddeford, Manager – Policy and Projects, on 08 8373 8394 or selenam@purpleorange.org.au.

Notes

1 For more information about the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, visit https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/.

2 Visit Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, ‘Final report – Executive summary: Our vision for an inclusive Australia and recommendations’, September 2023, page xi, available at https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report.

3 The South Australian Government only accepted without any qualification recommendations 5.2 (review and update of Australia’s Disability Strategy), 7.34 (include homelessness in Australia’s Disability Strategy), 8.4 (screening and assessment for disability in youth detention), and 8.5 (disability training for staff in youth detention). For further information, visit Government of South Australia, ‘South Australian response: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability’, July 2024, available at https://dhs.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/169757/Disability-Royal-Commission-South-Australia-Response.pdf.

4 On 27 November 2025, the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing released a progress report on behalf of all governments. Many of the updates were made jointly. For 18 recommendations, the South Australian Government provided an identical update. For others, South Australia made no update at all, including regarding its responsibility to fund independent disability advocacy services alongside the Commonwealth. For more information, visit Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing, ‘Disability Royal Commission Progress Report 2025’, available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/disability-royal-commission-progress-report-2025?language=en. Previously, the South Australian Government’s brief 2024 update mentioned just five recommendations and was mainly focused on previously announced initiatives that predated the DRC’s Final Report. For more information, visit An Australian, state and territory government initiative, ‘National interim update 2024: Government response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability’, pages 14-15, available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-interim-update-2024.

5 Visit Government of Western Australia, ‘WA Implementation Roadmap: Disability Royal Commission’, December 2024, available at https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2024-12/drc-implementation-roadmap_0.pdf.

6 Visit NSW Government, ‘NSW Government 2024/25 Implementation Plan’, 31 July 2024, available at https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/documents/community-inclusion/disability-inclusion/royal-commission-into-violence-abuse-neglect-and-exploitation-of-people-with-disability/nsw-government-2024_25-implementation-plan-appendix-b.pdf.

Responses to key asks

Independent Disability Advocacy No
Accessible Housing No
Inclusive Education No
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations Partial Agreement
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan Partial Agreement

Written response from Labor Party

Thank you for your correspondence ahead of the 2026 March State Election.

SA Labor believes that a fair society is one where people with disabilities are supported to live with dignity, independence, and opportunity. We are committed to inclusive communities, accessible services, and strong public systems that empower people living with disability and their families.

We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the important work JFA Purple Orange undertakes to advance the rights, inclusion and opportunities of people living with disability in South Australia.

Since 2022, the Malinauskas Labor Government has been working hard to provide practical support to South Australians living with a disability, through the following measures:

Provided $38.6 million in support with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure 1,250 Bedford workers and clients with a disability kept their jobs, services or place of residence – based on our fundamental belief in the dignity of work.
Continued driving the implementation of the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations, guided by the voices and lived experiences of people with Disability.
Secured the Legacy of Julia Farr – through the sale of Highgate Park for $42 million, securing a perpetual Trust, dedicated to funding initiatives that provide crucial support to South Australians with disabilities forever.
Boosted funding for, and expanding, the Community Visitor Scheme.
Endorsed changes to the National Construction Code for more accessible and adaptable housing.
Passed legislation to implement key recommendations of the independent review of the Disability Inclusion Act 2018, ensuring disability access and inclusion law and policy is responsive to the shifting priorities of our disability community.
Launched a new State Disability Inclusion Plan for 2025-2029.
Halved the number of people in hospital with NDIS plans who are ready for discharge.
Appointed a Minister for Autism.
Developed an Autism Charter and Autism Strategy.
Established Autism lead teachers in public schools.
Delivered the Autism Works campaign.

The following responds to the matters you have raised ahead of the election.

Disability Advocacy

The Malinauskas Labor Government funds the Uniting Communities Disability Advocacy Service, which provides individual advocacy and legal representation for people with disability navigating the NDIS.

This service is in addition to the $5.48m in Federal funding provided under the National Disability Advocacy Program to five organisations in South Australia to deliver effective advocacy supports to people with disability in relation to their experiences with the NDIS.

In this term of Government, we’ve provided more than $12 million to the Adult Safeguarding Unit so it can continue supporting South Australians at risk of abuse and neglect, with nearly 30 percent of last quarter’s contacts involving supporting a person with disability.

We’ve passed legislation to update the Ageing and Adult Safeguarding Act 1995, ensuring the unit can continue supporting adults who may be vulnerable to abuse and neglect. When we came into government, we also reinstated and provided a 35 percent funding boost to South Australia’s Community Visitor Scheme (CVS), to ensure continued advocacy and support for people with disability receiving support from OHS disability services or under the guardianship of the public advocate.

We have also recently announced the expansion of the CVS to non-government and private homes on an opt-in basis, with a recruitment campaign currently underway, ensuring more people with disability can access advocacy and assistance to resolve issues relating to care and service provision.

Disability Royal Commission

While coordination and stewardship of the Joint Government Response to the Disability Royal Commission is held with the Australian Government, as you’ve noted, South Australia has accepted or accepted in principle 91 out of 129 recommendations for our state to respond to across the areas of access to mainstream services and settings, safeguarding, governance and disability data collection.

The Malinauskas Labor Government is continuing to collaborate with the Federal Government, the National Disability Insurance Agency, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission, to deliver three cross-jurisdictional safeguarding projects relating to the Royal Commission, including:

Nationally consistent Community Visitor Schemes (CVS)

The Federal Albanese Government is leading engagement with states and territories to identify opportunities for nationally consistent approaches to the delivery of CVS, with the Malinauskas Labor Government committing to co-lead the project, and work having commenced across jurisdictions. The Federal Government has engaged an independent expert supplier to progress research which will build on the evidence base established by the Disability Royal Commission. This research will be used to inform jurisdictions as opportunities for nationally consistent approaches to the delivery of CVS are identified.

New Disability Quality and Safeguarding Framework

The Federal Government has commenced work to develop and design a new Disability Support Quality and Safeguarding Framework and the Disability Support Ecosystem Safeguarding Strategy.

In late 2025, Federal Government engaged Australian Healthcare Associates to consult with the disability community and the disability sector on the Framework and Strategy. South Australia has provided input into this process, to ensure existing safeguarding systems and schemes across South Australia are incorporated into this work, and our state’s perspectives are represented in consultation and engagement.

Joint Action Plan for the Reduction and Elimination of Restrictive Practices

In February 2025, the Disability Reform Ministerial Council agreed to the development of a Joint Action Plan to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices on people with disability. The Victorian Government is co-leading the development of this plan with all jurisdictions engaged in the early design and development of this work.

South Australia has had a Restrictive Practices Authorisation scheme since early 2022, with the unit often travelling across the state to inform and educate the disability sector and community about restrictive practices and their role.

Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

On 12 December 2025, the Malinauskas Labor Government announced its response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence with an investment of $67 4 million over 10 years.

Work is now underway to develop an outcomes-focused Implementation Plan to provide a clear path forward for the government on the phasing and evaluation of efforts in response to that Royal Commission’s recommendations. In developing this plan, advice will be sought from the family and sexual violence sector, an Aboriginal Partnership Committee and a Lived Experience Advisory Group, which will reflect the diverse communities in South Australia, including people with disability.

This is in addition to the formation of a new Lived Experience Advisory Network on the design of domestic, family and sexual violence policy, programs and services. It will bring together people with lived experience to share knowledge and perspectives, influence government and service sector decisions, and create meaningful change for others.

Inclusive Education

As you know, the Disability Royal Commission included differing views among Commissioners on the future of ‘special schools’. In line with this, we recognise the diverse needs, preferences, and aspirations of families and communities. In addition to our broader investments across public schools, we committed $3.5 million per year over four years to establish new Special Options, both specialist classes and disability units, across the state to better meet student demand and ensure every South Australian can enrol in their local school.

This approach places choice and opportunity at the centre of decision-making for families, empowering them and their children to select the learning environment in which they can best thrive.

In addition to this, in this term of government we’ve invested $50 million for 100 mental health and learning support specialists in schools, $28.8 million for Autism Inclusion Teachers in public primary school and introduced legislative reform, wholeof- government strategies and system initiatives that reflect our direction toward building education environments that are accessible, welcoming and responsive to the full diversity of learners.

We have also invested an additional $50m to provide schools with additional funding to support the needs of students with disabilities.

In 2025, South Australia signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement- Full and Fair Funding 2025-2034, affirming all parties’ continued commitment to the implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31. The Strategy includes a policy priority to build capability in the delivery of inclusive education in schools.

The Malinauskas Labor Government is building capability at scale through initiatives such as our Autism Inclusion Teachers, the pilot of inclusion teachers in secondary schools, and the development of evidence-based inclusive practice guidance for educators.

If re-elected, we will deliver a $10 million investment in autism infrastructure in public primary schools. We will target twenty schools, with the investment including things like sensory spaces, inclusive playgrounds and other inclusive upgrades.

We will also introduce an autism inclusion program for all public high schools. This will provide every high school with Autism Inclusion Classroom Essentials progressional learning, and six inclusive teaching and learning team members will partner with secondary schools to coordinate and support schools to become more inclusive of students with autism. This is a $2.5 million investment over the next two years and follows a successful pilot run by the Department for Education.

My government remains committed to continuing to strengthen inclusive public education and to ensure every child is welcome in their school, preschool or early childhood service and is supported to learn and thrive.

Accessible Housing

The National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 livable housing design provisions have applied to new homes since 1 October 2024.

Transitional arrangements were approved for development applications submitted before 1 October 2024 and to provide concessions that address design challenges related to small or irregular allotments and small homes manufactured off-site.

A concession also applies for worker and tourist accommodation, but these buildings are typically classified as Class 1 b buildings that are subject to the access provisions of the NCC, rather than the livable housing design provisions.

The concessions are due to be reviewed in April this year to ensure they are necessary to support the transition to the NCC 2022 requirements for all new homes. This process has commenced and we commit to seeking the input of Purple Orange and others during this process.

There are also South Australian variations to the NCC that require accessible housing in developments of twenty or more homes (apartments or houses) with at least one home or 5 percent of the total number, whichever is greater, required to be compliant with AS1428. 1 – Design for access and mobility.

The Malinauskas Labor Government continues to work proactively with community housing providers to create accommodation pathways for people with disability via several key initiatives, including:

Alternative commissioning models to enhance Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) supply, and utilisation of existing DHS properties as SDA.
Support for NDIS participants to maintain social and public housing tenancies.

Further to this, the updated Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 released on 29 January 2025, includes a joint policy priority on homelessness under outcome area 2 – Inclusive Homes and Communities.

SA Labor’s Comprehensive Plan to Build More Homes

The Malinauskas Labor Government is taking a bold and comprehensive plan to the election to deliver real change and supercharge housing supply in South Australia to increase access to affordable homes for South Australians. This includes investing in 200 new supported accommodation Housing Trust places and renovating 300 vacant, run-down Housing Trust homes. Our comprehensive suite of housing policies can be found at https://www.sa.alp.org.au/our-policies/building-more-homes

Thriving Kids

The Malinauskas Labor Government will continue to work with JFA Purple Orange to explore opportunities to work with you and other disability representative organisations on community engagement and consultation activities for the design of Foundational Supports in South Australia as work progresses.

Thank you again for your commitment to advocacy and to advancing stronger, more inclusive communities. Should the Malinauskas Labor Government be re-elected for a second term, we look forward to continuing these important conversations with you.

You may also like to keep up to date with our other 2026 State Election Policy Commitments here: https://www.sa.alp.org.au

Thank you again for your ongoing contribution to the state.

Kind regards

SA Labor Team

Responses to key asks

Independent Disability Advocacy No
Accessible Housing No
Inclusive Education No
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations Partial Agreement
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan Partial Agreement

Written response from Liberal Party

Thank you for sending through the JFA Purple Orange Policy Position Statement and supporting documentation, and for the opportunity to respond to your questions. As the Shadow Treasurer, I am writing on behalf of my colleagues in the South Australian Liberal Party.

The South Australian Liberal Party acknowledges the breadth and significance of the matters you have raised, including the role of independent disability advocacy, the importance of accessible and affordable housing, the need for inclusive education, and the urgency of responding to the recommendations of both the Disability Royal Commission and the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

The key pillars of our policy position are to build a better health system, to ensure safer and stronger communities, and to make South Australia a more affordable place to live and do business. All these aims are consistent with the aims of your organisation. I note your disappointment in the lack of action against the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission, and in addressing domestic, family and sexual violence.

We are committed to seriously addressing criminal action, including those committing domestic violence, through enforcing bail conditions, and supporting mental health and improving the recruitment and retention of police officers.

The cost-of-living crisis and the housing crisis are major concerns that are high on the list of constituents’ concerns, and the Liberal Party has made the following commitments:

Encourage construction by boosting apprentices and traineeships in schools, providing mentors, and providing payroll tax exemptions for apprentices and trainees to lower cost of employment and stimulate the construction industry.
Reducing cost of living pressure with uniform 50c fares for public transport.

These are general policy issues that address the shortcomings of the current government. What you are requesting is a holistic approach to health and welfare issue, which makes sense.

An incoming Hurn Liberal government will be guided by and work with organisations such as Purple Orange and be treated as a top priority. I am unable to offer a specific commitment to the degree of funding, but I can offer assurance that a Liberal government will treat DRC and DFSV as top priorities to be addressed and will seek to work directly with your organisation to this end.

The Liberal Party has appreciated the opportunity to participate in JFA Purple Orange’s first ever State Election Disability Forum, in which specific questions were responded to by our Human Services spokesperson, Michelle Lensink. We thank you for your continued support and involvement. Should you require any further discussion or additional details, please do not hesitate to contact our office at BenHood.Office@parliament.sa.gov.au.

Yours Sincerely,

Hon. Ben Hood MLC
Shadow Treasurer
Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector

Responses to key asks

Independent Disability Advocacy Yes
Accessible Housing Yes
Inclusive Education Yes
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations Yes
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan Yes

Written response from The Greens SA

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the JFA Purple Orange State Election Ask 2026. The Greens strongly support the requests in your submission. Below please find our detailed response to your request.

Independent disability advocacy services
The Greens SA strongly support funding an independent state-wide disability advocacy service in South Australia as recommended by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Accessible housing is needed to support ending the housing crisis.
The Greens support the implementation of an Accessible Housing Overlay Code Amendment to increase supply of accessible housing. A combination of affordable and accessible housing is essential to supporting people who need an accessible, affordable and safe place to live.
In relation to the National Construction Code 2022 Liveable Housing Design Standard, we do not support an extension beyond the commencement date of April 2026, as the housing sector has had ample time (18 months) to adapt to the requirements of the Code.
The Greens have a strong plan to make housings more affordable. We will introduce legislation in the next term of Parliament to mandate a minimum of 30 percent affordable and public housing, across the entire state using state planning legislation. All new developments of 20 dwellings or more anywhere in South Australia will be required to include at least 30% affordable and social housing, of which 10% must be affordable to buy, 10% must be affordable rental accommodation, and 10% must be community or public housing.
Every child will thrive in an inclusive education system.
The Greens support the co-design of an Inclusive Education Strategy that includes actions to support investment in inclusive education initiatives, and disability inclusion training across all schools. The Greens do not support separating children and young people with disability into “special” schools and want to see the phase-out brought forward. The current phase-out target of 2050 is unacceptable.
Urgent action is needed to implement the Disability Royal Commission recommendations.
The SA Greens strongly support the delivery of a co-designed, funded, and timebound State Implementation Plan for the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations as a high priority action within the first year of the next term of parliament.
A response plan to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence should be co-designed with priority groups.
The Greens strongly support the delivery of a co-designed, funded, and timebound Implementation Plan for the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence. Lived experience must inform the development of priority population implementation plans.

Kind regards,

The Hon. Robert Simms MLC
Greens SA Member of the Legislative Council

Responses to key asks

Independent Disability Advocacy Yes
Accessible Housing Partial Agreement
Inclusive Education Partial Agreement
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations Yes
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan Yes

Written response from SA-BEST

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to JFA Purple Orange’s 2026 Election Asks.

Before turning to your specific topics, I want to acknowledge the important work undertaken by JFA Purple Orange and recognise how the organisation’s contributions have improved discussion and debate within Parliament.

Purple Orange’s submissions to the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Royal Commission and the Disability Royal Commission were both significant and compelling, representing the lived experience of people with disability. Your advocacy on the Disability Inclusion (Review Recommendations) Amendment Bill 2023 was instrumental not only in respect of the content of the Bill but in several amendments that I supported.

I also note your valuable submissions in respect of the merger of the Public Trustee and the Public Advocate. I have spoken publicly about my own experience as a guardian, and my frustration at the sometimes complex and arduous process of obtaining even simple safety items.

In the past I have also questioned the government on the classification of restraints, the adequacy of the Community Visitors Scheme, the independence of disability advocacy services who were also NDIS providers, and the costs associated with disability housing.

If re-elected, I will continue to pursue the government to take steps to ensure people with disability are able to live independently and without undue financial burden owing to their disability.

I turn now to the particulars of your election asks.

Independent Disability Advocacy Services

SA-BEST SUPPORTS Purple Orange’s call for long term and stable funding for independent advocacy for people with disability.

Recommendation 6.21 of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) calls on state and territory governments, at least from 1 July 2026, to provide such funding. The South Australian Government accepted in principle this recommendation, together with others.

In the Commonwealth’s National Interim Update, published in December 2024, South Australia is recorded as providing an update on only five recommendations.¹ No mention was made of recommendation 6.21.

In a further progress report published by the Federal Government on 27 November 2025, the Commonwealth and every state and territory, except South Australia, provided an update on its response to recommendation 6.21. The fact that South Australia apparently did not provide a response is concerning, particularly in circumstances where it is the only Australian jurisdiction that does not appear to have done so.

As you quite rightly point out, independent disability advocacy can play a crucial role in preserving the rights and interests of a person with disability, enabling that person to live a fulsome and active life in our community.

If re-elected, I will call upon the new government to make clear how and when it will implement the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission, including recommendation 6.21, and if no action will be taken, a clear explanation to the community as to why.

Accessible Housing

Australia’s housing crisis is affecting a broad range of community members. I agree with your statement that increasing supply alone is not the magic cure but must be supported through other measures that ease the cost-of-living burden.

Accessible housing, which is designed and furnished with accessibility in mind, will have long-term dividends and will avoid the substantial costs of retrofitting existing accommodation. I note your concern about the availability of blanket exemptions for the first 18 months of the new National Construction Code 2022 Liveable Housing Design Standard.

The government has confirmed that the South Australian Housing Authority voluntarily adopted those standards in April 2022 and has committed to 75% of all new houses meeting those standards. However, that commitment extends to the ‘silver’ level of the standard, which is the lowest level.

As for the 18 months period where exemptions are available, it is my understanding that those exemptions were intended to address:

the risk of significant cost increases at a time of existing housing shortages, and
technical limitations of some requirements because of specific land types (eg narrow or steep blocks).

The government has given a commitment to industry that it will not alter those standards for ten years, in order that industry can have certainty as it invests and develops processes to meet the standards.

I understand that after 18 months there will be a review to assess the extent of uptake and compliance with the new standards.

If re-elected, I will carefully follow the new government’s implementation of the 2022 Standard and if exemptions are contemplated beyond April 2026, I will call upon the government to articulate clearly and precisely why those exemptions are required. I will also pursue the government to ensure any further exemptions are limited to exceptionaI circumstances.

I will also pursue the government to give genuine consideration to your proposal that South Australia adopts an Affordable Housing Overlay and to report publicly on the outcome of that consideration.

Co-Designed DFSV Action Plan with Disability Community

SA-BEST SUPPORTS Purple Orange’s call for the delivery of an implementation plan for all the recommendations of the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence (DV Royal Commission). As proposed, that implementation plan should be designed in consultation with key stakeholders, include comprehensive funding commitments and have clear timeframes.

As you may know, I co-sponsored the motion in Parliament for the establishment of the Royal Commission, and I am proud that that motion led to the inquiry and detailed recommendations.

South Australia must have a whole-of-government strategy to address domestic, family and sexual violence. Given the higher-than-average prevalence of such behaviour amongst people with disability, the strategy must understand and specifically address the unique needs and barriers faced by those individuals.

Action on DRC Recommendations

SA-BEST SUPPORTS Purple Orange’s call for the creation of a State Implementation Plan for the recommendations arising from the Disability Royal Commission. I have already mentioned South Australia’s lacklustre response to the Commission’s recommendations and, as you have pointed out, the current government only committed to four of the 129 recommendations within the remit of states and territories. That is deeply troubling.

If re-elected, I will pursue the new government to reconsider its response to the Commission’s recommendations and push them to get on with implementation. As you have quite rightly pointed out, people with disability should not have to continue to wait and have their rights and interests adversely affected because of government inaction.

Inclusive Education System

I agree that parents or guardians of children with disability should have the choice to send their children to specialist education facilities or to ‘mainstream’ schools and, if the latter, that mainstream school must be able to accommodate any special needs.

As you would know, in October 2025 the government introduced the Education and Children’s Services (Inclusive Education) Amendment Bill 2025. That Bill was the government’s response to certain recommendations from the DV Royal Commission. The Bill passed both Houses of Parliament but is yet to receive assent.

When it commences the Bill will insert into the Education Act a definition of disability and, importantly, will insert a new object into the Act ensuring:

that the provision of education and children’s services in this State is inclusive by enabling the participation of children and students with a disability and supporting the development of their personalities, talents, creativity and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.²

Once implemented, the amendments to the Education Act created by this Bill, must be subject to review within three years of commencement.³

While I was pleased to support the Bill, I noted that there were still deficiencies in its provisions. Clearly there is still much work to do, and I will continue to pursue the government to ensure children with disability are able to enjoy a productive, inclusive and respectful education experience.

To that end SA-BEST SUPPORTS the proposal to develop an Inclusive Education Strategy, which complements and enhances legislation and supports all schools to be genuinely welcoming of children with disability.

Thriving Kids

Thank you for your proposals in respect of the Commonwealth Government Thriving Kids initiative. I expect that the new government will give proper consideration to your suggestions and will consult closely with disability advocacy groups in the design and implementation of South Australia’s contribution to that initiative.

If that does not happen, I would be pleased to raise it directly with the new government.

Final Comments

I take this opportunity to again thank Purple Orange for its ongoing advocacy and for its thoughtful and practical submissions.

On behalf of SA-BEST I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to your election asks.

Warmest regards

Hon. Connie Bonaros
SA-BEST

¹Recommendations 5.3, 5.7, 7.3, 7.8 and 7.19.
² Education and Children’s Services (Inclusive Education) Amendment Bill 2025, clause 5.
³ Ibid, Schedule 1.

Responses to key asks

Independent Disability Advocacy Yes
Accessible Housing Partial Agreement
Inclusive Education Partial Agreement
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations Yes
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan Yes

Written response from Better Community

Thank you to JFA Purple Orange for your vital advocacy for people with disabilities and their families.

As someone who has proudly served the South Australian community in the Legislative Council for over 15 years in various leadership capacities, I bring experience, dedication, and a strong commitment to building a more inclusive and better future for our state. My motto has always been putting our community first, and through my new political platform, Jing Lee – Better Community, my community work and policies are shaped by three key pillars: Better Community, Safer Society, and Stronger Economy.

Please allow me to briefly outline my inclusive values under these three key pillars:

BETTER COMMUNITY: I believe a better community is where everyone feels a sense of belonging and shared purpose for collective growth and wellbeing.
SAFER SOCIETY: I believe everyone deserves to participate fully and freely in an inclusive society where they feel safe and respected.
STRONGER ECONOMY: I believe in creating opportunities for local jobs across all professions, business growth across all industries – in the cities, suburbs, and regional South Australia.

I am pleased to provide my responses to your key priorities as follows:

As an Independent Voice in Parliament, I value transparency and accountability and recognise the need to invest in independent disability advocacy services, and I will be advocating for the State Government to investigate viable options to enable independent disability advocacy services as they play a vital role in ensuring fairness and protecting the rights of people living with disability.
I acknowledge accessible housing is an issue that warrants serious attention. I would call on the government to instigate a specific taskforce to examine the viability of implementing the National Construction Code 2022 Livable Housing Design Standard in full, and to examine practical, costed options that balance accessibility with affordability.
I believe every child deserves equitable access to quality education so that they can reach their full potential. As a first-generation migrant, I have experienced the challenges of learning in an education system where English is my second language. I have always advocated for inclusive education system where no child is left behind – regardless of their circumstances background. I will continue to advocate for inclusive education initiatives that empower students, teachers, and families and I value co-design of an Inclusive Education Strategy in South Australia with those who are directly impacted.
I support the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations that the State Government deliver a co-designed, funded, and timebound State Implementation Plan as an urgent priority.
I fully support a whole-of-state response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence through a co-designed, funded, and timebound Implementation Plan that reflects the voices of those most affected, including priority population groups.

Creating a better, safer, and stronger community is something we achieve together. I will continue working constructively with stakeholders and government to support practical, evidence-based initiatives that improve lives and strengthen South Australia’s future.

Thank you for the opportunity to address JFA Purple Orange’s 2026 South Australian Election Asks. To learn more about my priorities and platform, please visit www.jinglee.com.au. If you require any further information or clarification, please contact my office.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Jing Lee MLC
Member of the Legislative Council
Leader of Jing Lee – Better Community

Key Question	Labor Party	Liberal Party	The Greens SA	SA-BEST	Better Community
Independent Disability Advocacy	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅
Accessible Housing	❌	❌	✅	Partial	Partial
Inclusive Education	❌	❌	✅	Partial	Partial
Action on the Disability Royal Commission recommendations	Partial	Partial	✅	✅	✅
Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan	Partial	Partial	✅	✅	✅

Our new look is here

2026 South Australian State Election

South Australian State Election Disability Forum

Key Election Asks

Independent Advocacy

Housing

Education

Disability Royal Commission

Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

Talking to your local candidates

Background on Key Election Asks

2026 Election: Political Party Commitments

Responses to key asks

Written response from Labor Party

Responses to key asks

Written response from Liberal Party

Responses to key asks

Written response from The Greens SA

Responses to key asks

Written response from SA-BEST

Responses to key asks

Written response from Better Community

Party Commitments Summary Table

More on the 2026 South Australian State Election:

Parties pitch their policies and respond to asks at State Election Disability Forum

Event summary: State Election Disability Forum, 10 Feburary 2026