Strong Voices Report

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Disabilities. How has the government progressed recommendations made in the 2011 Strong Voices report?

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS (Taylor—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:45): I would like to thank the member for Torrens for her question and her continued advocacy on behalf of constituents living with a disability in Torrens. In 2011, the member for Wright, a former minister for disabilities, released the Strong Voices report with the then commissioner for social inclusion and chair of the Social Inclusion Board, Monsignor David Cappo. The purpose of the report was to provide a long-term reform blueprint to enhance the life and rights of people living with a disability in our state.

I am indeed pleased to advise the house that the government has made significant progress on the recommendations made in the Strong Voices report. A key recommendation was the development of a new disability act to address a number of important issues. The Disability Services (Rights, Protection and Inclusion) Amendment Act 2013 came into operation on 5 December 2013. This new act provided improved legislative safeguards for the rights of people living with a disability and ensured greater choice and control over their lives, something that they tell me about when I visit them regularly.

Furthermore, the amendments to the Disability Services Act 1993 enabled the establishment of the disability Community Visitor Scheme, a recommendation contained in the report. As members would be aware, the Community Visitor Scheme monitors the implementation of quality disability accommodation services and the wellbeing of vulnerable clients in our state. The Strong Voices report also called for the development of a Disability Justice Plan for South Australia to safeguard the rights of all people living with a disability in their interactions with the criminal justice system.

In June 2014, the Attorney-General launched the Disability Justice Plan 2014-2017 following considerable consultation with the disability community. Considerable progress has been made in implementing the actions in the plan and particularly in the law reform portfolio. The Criminal Law Consolidation (Sexual Offences—Cognitive Impairment) Act came into operation on 30 March 2015 to better protect people with cognitive impairments. Furthermore, laws were passed in July last year to better assist vulnerable parties, including suspects, witnesses and defendants within the criminal justice system.

These are just a few of the important areas of reform this government has undertaken since the release of the Strong Voices report. This government's funding and the commitment to the NDIS system and scheme will also progress several other important recommendations. This includes the area of addressing unmet needs—we were the first state in Australia to publish this data on a monthly basis—and the provision of individualised funding and commitment to long-term funding to meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families or carers.

The government across the country and society as a whole have made significant inroads in recognising and progressing the lifetime ideals and goals of people living with a disability and supporting them. The progress the government has made on the 2011 Strong Voices report provides a time line and snapshot of positive change in our communities and our attitudes. I look forward to updating the house as we make considerable progress moving forward leading up to the implementation of the NDIS in July 2018.