Commissioners Galbally, McEwin, and Bennett are right to recommend end to disability segregation and discrimination

JFA Purple Orange has today endorsed the recommendations of three commissioners of the Disability Royal Commission to phase out and end the segregation of people living with disability in Australia.

Practices of segregation in education, employment, and housing have emerged as the key point of contention among the six commissioners as the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability was released publicly this morning.

Although there is consensus that the status quo is not good enough, commissioners are split on whether settings that separate and congregate people living with disability from non-disabled Australians should continue or be phased out.

Chair of the Julia Farr Association in South Australia, Tricia Spargo, has today backed the stance taken by commissioners Dr Rhonda Galbally, Dr Alastair McEwin, and Barbara Bennett that practices of segregation are still occurring in Australia and these are failing to uphold the fundamental human rights of people living with disability.

“Practices where people living with disability are separated, congregated, and excluded from the Australian community, particularly in education, employment, and housing, are harmful and are a direct contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which Australia is party,” Ms Spargo said.

“It is therefore imperative that segregation as a legal, policy, and practice framework is recognised as discrimination and a violation of the UNCRPD, which these three commissioners have done.

“I am very disappointed that some other commissioners have seemingly legitimised these harmful practices and failed to recognise that so-called choices made in a context where safe and inclusive options are not available cannot really be called a genuine choice at all."

“There must be a greater investment in inclusive practices in mainstream services including education, employment, and housing, which are the three main areas dealt with by the Report in terms of segregation, but also in healthcare, essential services, and community life."

“We must also be ambitious in setting deadlines to end all forms of segregation and discrimination. Indeed, this is where I respectfully disagree with commissioners Galbally, McEwin, and Bennett. The deadlines they have suggested are far too long."

“Children and parents should not be expected to wait 28 years to be fully included in their local schools. ADEs can be completely reformed and improved to create a new model that works for everyone much sooner than 2034. And there is no justification for expecting people living with disability to continue to be forced to live in group houses for the next 15 years when no other Australian would accept these living arrangements.”

Key recommendations welcomed

Ms Spargo also welcomed other key recommendations of the Royal Commission including creating a Disability Rights Act, the formulation of a new National Disability Agreement between all governments, appointing a federal disability minister, and improving data collection so that policy decisions affecting people living with disability are better informed and based on evidence.

“Governments must take urgent action and commit the necessary resources to ensure there is substantial change that addresses the causes of the violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation that the Commission has drawn long-overdue attention to,” Ms Spargo said.

South Australian government must fund independent advocacy services

Access to independent disability advocacy services that support people to address problems with services early should be one priority for the South Australian Government in responding to the Royal Commission’s Final Report. The current inadequate funding of just $400,000 per year ends shortly, with no further budget allocation made to date.

“There must be easy access to independent advocacy support for people living with disability so that problems can be addressed in a timely manner,” Ms Spargo said.

“I call on the South Australian government to properly fund independent individual, systemic, and representative advocacy within a long-term plan. State offices and agencies that may offer some assistance currently are not independent, and this is highly problematic when many issues that people experience actually involve government services.

“Additionally, I cannot emphasise enough the value of peer networks and support for people living with disability as they navigate the ongoing barriers and complex systems they encounter every day.

“Plus, as the much-needed reform processes get underway based on today’s report, peer networks will be even more vital for sharing information and providing support to one another during a time of upheaval and change. Therefore, sustainable consistent funding for peer networks is critically important, now more than ever.”

Report’s release a milestone but actions must follow

JFA Purple Orange has contributed to the Royal Commission process since 2019 and looks forward to engaging constructively with the reforms that must now occur.

“The conclusion of the Royal Commission and release of its Final Report are major milestones, but this is definitely not the end of the journey,” Ms Spargo added.

“The disability community will not rest until all Australians living with disability are included in our communities and enabled to reach their full potential according to their interests, goals, and genuinely free choices from the same range of options that are available to others.”

 

Media enquiries or to organise an interview:

Tricia Spargo, Chair, Julia Farr Association

Email: media@juliafarr.org.au