Equal Opportunity Commission

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:28): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General please update the house on the Annual Report of the Equal Opportunity Commission?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:28): I thank the member for the question and, as members might have noted, I have tabled the annual report of the—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee, you can leave for half an hour under 137A. Thank you. The Deputy Premier has the call.

The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I have tabled today the Equal Opportunity Commission Annual Report, and I would urge all members to read it. One of the most stunning revelations in this report is that the number one basis for a discrimination is disability as a ground of complaint. It has been so for the last five years. As the commissioner identified, the social and economic impacts of disability discrimination are profound.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The commissioner wrote that we should be 'pulling out all stops' to get as many people living with a disability as possible into meaningful and productive jobs—something I wholeheartedly support and our government endorses.

Mr Malinauskas: How?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Well, listen up. Having carefully considered this information—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —I was concerned that, despite the evidence highlighting disability as the number one ground of complaint, an insufficient number of the commission's activities or resources have been directed to this important issue. The commissioner reiterated the importance of public education activities throughout the annual report. Unfortunately, only two of her 49 speaking engagements in 2018-19 specifically related to the issue of disability, and there was only one of 51 speaking engagements in the previous year.

It is clear that the commissioner has a significant emphasis on public education activities that focus on leadership and gender inequality. While these are very commendable, the need to address discrimination in relation to disability—a ground of complaint that far exceeds all other complaints—should be a priority, as it is for the government. Earlier this month, the Premier and the Hon. Michelle Lensink launched the State Disability Inclusion Plan for 2019-23. The plan highlights the collective efforts of the government agencies to implement measures to improve access and inclusion of South Australians with a disability.

It comes at a time when the royal commission is underway, as many would know, into the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. Our government supports this commission, and my department in particular coordinates the government's response. Given the government's response and focus, and in the interests of ensuring that public funds are directed to the areas of highest need, I will request that the commissioner prioritise addressing discrimination on the ground of disability and that she report to me how she intends to do so and the outcomes that we can expect.

We must respond to the figures that are before us and do all we can to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. Increased education activities of the equal opportunity commissioner will be a start. My request will seek the commission to realign its efforts, and, as I have presently advised the parliament, it is my expectation that the commissioner and other statutory officers manage their offices within their existing resources. This must be the priority. The commissioner will need time, of course, to implement and demonstrate this renewed focus and I look forward to observing these changes while regularly being advised of them and expect to report back to the parliament on its progress.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale is called to order. The member for Kaurna has the call.