Liberal Party

Below is the full response from the Liberal Party.

Advocacy 

Do you commit to significantly increasing state government investment in independent, systemic, and representative advocacy in South Australia? 

 

The Marshall Liberal Government continues to support strategies which increase safeguards for people with a disability, including increased access to advocacy.  

In August 2020, our Government announced an additional $1.8 million in new funding to continue the work of the Disability Advocate ($600,000) and to support individual disability advocacy to assist people with disability to access what they need from the NDIS and from the community ($1.2 million).  

The Disability Advocate, Dr David Caudrey, has played a key role in identifying systemic gaps within the NDIS and has successfully helped inform the Commonwealth government and NDIS Commission throughout his appointment. Dr Caudrey works closely with the Public Advocate, NDIA, across government, community advocacy organisations and other key stakeholders. 

The $1.2 million investment in a new advocacy service, delivered by Uniting Communities, comes following a recommendation from the State Government’s independent Safeguarding Taskforce in July 2020. The newly funded disability advocacy service assists people access the NDIS and ensures they are receiving adequate supports. Removed by the previous Labor Government as a cost savings measure in 2007, this is the first time in 14 years that an independent disability advocacy service has been funded.  

 

DAIP implementation 

Do you commit to funding grants for the implementation of actions under Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs) for both state agencies and local councils in South Australia?  

 

The Government signalled its commitment to South Australians with disability from day one. The Disability Inclusion Act 2018 was the first piece of legislation passed in parliament by our government and commenced 1 July 2018.  

The Act provides a legal framework to support equal access and participation for people with disability in the community including in recreation, education, health, employment and transport. Under our Government, South Australia has its first ever State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019-2023 (Inclusive SA), which came into operation on 31 October 2019, and almost 100 DAIPs across state and local governments. 

Grant SA provides one-off grants to support a strong and inclusive South Australia. All applications are assessed against common criteria, and those ranked highest are considered for funding under one of the streams for which they are available. There are opportunities for organisations to access funding for grants if their projects falls within the grant eligibility. 

 

Housing  

Do you commit to making the accessibility standards in the National Construction Code 2022 mandatory in South Australia? 

 

Whilst South Australia is supportive of encouraging the ongoing voluntary adoption of these standards where they will have the greatest impact, the implications on housing affordability are of primary concern. Accordingly, South Australia does not support the mandatory adoption of the provisions on 1 September 2022.  

Furthermore, the Government is committed to upholding the rights of people living with disability to access the services and opportunities available to all South Australians, and to foster inclusive housing opportunities across the State. The Silver level adopted by other states is inadequate for those most in need. Therefore, the Government is committed to working towards future opportunities to ensure those with additional mobility issues are catered for through alternative housing solutions.  

The Government is committed to protecting South Australia’s most vulnerable residents and will continue to consider alternative voluntary pathways to increase the availability of adequate accessible public and private housing stock in South Australia.  

 

Education

Do you commit to Inclusive Education in South Australia including through signing an Inclusive Education Policy Statement, developing an inclusive Education Strategy, funding the implementation of Inclusive Education initiatives in schools, and not establishing any new special schools or units?

 

The Government is providing record levels of investment in disability funding to support students and staff. Through our Inclusive Education Support Program, we invested $305 million in disability funding for schools and preschools in 2020 compared to $241 million in 2018, representing a 26% increase. This has resulted in increased staffing resources focussed on supporting students in this cohort.

Our significant disability funding has supported 21,115 students as at Term 3 Census 2020, which represents an increase of 10.5% from the previous year, with the largest increases occurring in the areas of Autism and Complex Social and Emotional Behaviour. We are also supporting professional learning and development for educators through Youth Mental Health First Aid and regular professional learning days for Student Wellbeing Leaders.

In addition, our new $27.4 million mental health service will start mid-2022, which will enable additional skilled mental health professionals to provide individual advice and support for children and young people. This new team of 55 specialist professionals will complement the significant extra resources established during the last three years. Student Wellbeing Leaders will continue to play an integral role in school wellbeing teams and will now have additional support in their work with children. 

We are aware that the 2020 Graham Inquiry into Suspensions, Expulsions and Exclusion Processes in South Australian Government Schools found that students living with a disability were one of the groups overrepresented in exclusionary practices. The department has consulted extensively with stakeholders since the publication of the Graham Inquiry, and a specialised team is implementing the recommendations.

Specifically, we have committed $15 million in additional funding over the next four years to support the development and implementation of a systemic strategy and a roadmap to drive a significant reduction in exclusionary discipline in South Australia's public schools. This strategy includes a complete redesign of, and renewed investment in, high quality professional development and support services that support our schools in managing behaviour.

The draft Strategic Roadmap will be released for consultation mid-2022 so that our reforms can be delivered from 2023. This will ensure that meaningful planning occurs and that we have the right resources in place to establish and sustain positive change. The first body of professional development work in schools is set to commence this year.

 

Transport

Do you commit to investing in the transition of South Australia's taxi fleet to fully accessible vehicles by 2032?

 

The Government recognises the importance of Access Taxi services to the community, especially people with a disability and those who require additional mobility assistance. We also recognise that the reliability of this service is important as it supports the independence of Access Taxi clients and ensures they remain actively involved in our community.

The Government is taking action to deliver certainty and better services for those who rely on Access Taxis.

In July 2021 the Government announced it would make changes to provide better incentives to drivers and a stronger regulatory framework to address the systemic issues that impact the delivery of accessible taxi services.

In December 2021 the existing lifting fee of $10 (plus $1 GST) and driver on-time bonus ($5, plus $1 to the Access Taxi dispatch service) was replaced with a single improved lifting fee of $25 plus GST, paid by the government for both 50 per cent and 75 per cent subsidy members of the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) taking a subsidised trip in an Access Taxi.

From 22 February 2022 the application of the $25 lifting fee has been expanded to all trips by 100 per cent, 75 per cent and 50 per cent SATSS members booked through the Access CBS. This approach is being put in place in recognition that some SATSS members prefer not to use SATSS for short trips as they often result in delays and service issues.

This was implemented as a second stage to allow time for us to make sure SATSS members and access drivers understand the changes and update the systems that enable the lifting fee to be administered.

In addition to the improved lifting fee, the Government is also implementing important regulatory changes that will:

• Make it easier for the state government to undertake enforcement activity including fines and other penalties against Access Taxi operators and drivers doing the wrong thing.
• Update the current access taxi licence holder, operator and driver conditions to ensure that drivers give priority to people with a disability and specific mobility needs who need an Access Taxi to travel around our community.
• Establish a rostering system to ensure that Access Taxis are available after hours, especially at night and on weekends

The state government will be closely monitoring the performance of these measures in improving the reliability of Access Taxi services.

 

Justice

Do you commit to implementing all recommendations in the South Australia's Law Reform Institute's report Providing a Voice to the Vulnerable: A Study of Communication Assistance in South Australia?

The Government will carefully consider the Report's recommendations.

 

Health

Do you commit to funding meaningful measures to address the widespread barriers to safe access and inclusion across all South Australia's hospitals and health services so that people living with disability can access these essential services on an equal basis to all other members of the community?

 

The Government is committed to support South Australians with disability to engage with health services. We have commissioned a Health Performance Council review to look at that challenge.

The Government has implemented the NDIS long stay project, injecting funding towards transition accommodation and hospital liaison officers to support discharge from hospital, back into the community, for South Australians supported by an NDIS Plan. Remaining in hospital longer than is medically necessary does not support good physical or mental health outcomes for people with disability.

All Local Health Networks (which govern hospitals) and agencies of SA Health (such as Wellbeing SA) have a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan in place, but we recognise this is only the start of ensuring greater awareness of disability, and accessibility and inclusion in our health system.

Established by the Government, the Commission for Excellence and Innovation in Health works on human-centred design, including disability inclusion in healthcare.

The Government is committed to disability inclusion training of its health workforce and agencies, including those at executive level and those involved in decision making for health service design, delivery of patient care and physical infrastructure – whether that be new builds or upgrades.

As the planning for the new Women's and Children's Hospital continues, we will ensure that disability lived experience is consulted and heard during the design phases of this project.