The Albanese Government has unveiled its initial response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability. 

The government says it is taking significant steps in addressing the unacceptable treatment documented during Australia's largest inquiry into the experiences of people with disability. Despite these efforts, the response has been met with sharp criticism from experts and advocates.

The government has pledged to support the rights, safety, inclusion, and employment of people with disability through a $371 million investment. Among the key measures are:

  • Rights and Anti-Discrimination: $6.9 million to modernise the Disability Discrimination Act, $39.7 million for a new disability advocacy program, and $12.1 million to amend the Migration Health Requirement for children with disability.

  • Safety: $15.6 million to unify national quality and safeguarding arrangements, $4.4 million for consistent community visitor schemes, and $2 million to improve the safety of women and girls with disability.

  • Inclusion and Access: $12.3 million to improve accessible information and communications, $3.7 million for the Primary Care Enhancement Program for People with Intellectual Disability, and $19.6 million for grassroots efforts to improve community attitudes.

  • Employment: $23.3 million for a Disability Employment Centre of Excellence and $227.6 million for a new specialist disability employment program.

The government has fully accepted only 13 out of 172 recommendations under its primary or shared responsibility. Another 117 have been accepted in principle, while the rest are under further consideration.

Experts have expressed disappointment over the government's response, labelling it as inadequate and lacking in concrete action. 

Anne Kavanagh, a health and disability expert, has described the response as “patchy”, noting that critical recommendations around health, segregation in education, employment, and housing remain unaddressed. 

She said the government has missed an opportunity to close the health gap between Australians with and without disability, calling for an overarching disability and health strategy.

David Roy, an education and inclusion expert, characterised the government's stance on education as "safe" but insufficient. 

He called for clear policies on inclusive education, criticising the lack of a government response on equal access, participation, and the exclusionary nature of standardised curricula.

George Taleporos, an NDIS policy expert, condemned the government's failure to end segregation in group homes, which he argues denies people with disability autonomy and increases the risk of violence and exploitation. 

He called for the immediate adoption of the commission’s recommendations to separate housing provision from support services.

Laura Davy, a social policy expert, has noted the government's failure to commit to key proposals like a new disability rights charter, an independent statutory National Disability Commission, and a new government department dedicated to disability inclusion.

Leading disability advocates, including Marayke Jonkers, President of People with Disability Australia, have also expressed their disappointment with the government's response, calling it “completely disproportionate” to the scale of neglect and abuse reported. 

Jonkers highlighted the lack of a clear timeframe for implementing meaningful change and criticised the government's failure to commit to enshrining disability rights in legislation.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth has defended the government's response, saying; “Ensuring people with disability are at the centre of the work we do is paramount”.

Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten said the response is a “driving force towards a safer, accessible and inclusive Australia”.

More details of the government’s response are accessible here.