International Day of People with Disability

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:29): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises that 3 December 2025 is International Day of People with Disability;

(b) notes that this is a day to celebrate people living with disability, to promote public awareness of the issues people living with disability face, and to consider how we improve access and inclusivity in our communities;

(c) acknowledges the one in five South Australians who identify as living with disability; and

(d) congratulates the Malinauskas Labor government for its commitment to improving inclusion and access in South Australia.

Wednesday 3 December 2025 marks International Day of People with Disability, a day of global significance observed by the United Nations since 1992 and a day that calls on every one of us to not just reflect and celebrate but also to act. It is about how we as a community and as a parliament choose to build a South Australia where every person can participate with dignity.

The theme for this year, Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress, is a powerful reminder that inclusion is not an optional extra, it is fundamental to progress. None of us can claim a truly fair society while attitudes, as well as physical and technological barriers, still prevent people from moving through this world with the same ease and opportunity that others take for granted.

Here in South Australia, one in five people identify as living with disability—one in five people. They are our neighbours, our colleagues, our children, our parents and our friends, and far too often these South Australians encounter barriers they did not choose and burdens they should not carry alone.

I am proud to be part of a government that understands that inclusion must be more than a slogan. It needs to be visible in budgets, in legislation, in the design of public places and public services, and in the everyday experiences of the people we serve. Since coming to office, the Malinauskas Labor government has invested around $100 million in additional supports for people living with disability. Those investments include:

$50 million for 100 new mental health and learning support specialists in our schools;

$28.8 million for autism inclusion teachers in every public primary school;

$9 million to support people who fall through the NDIS eligibility cracks because of residency rules;

increased funding for the Community Visitor Scheme;

more Changing Places facilities so that people can participate in community life with dignity—I am excited that one of those new locations is in my own electorate of Davenport, at Glenthorne National Park, and has been warmly received by our community; and

the establishment of the Office for Autism, alongside campaigns like See Me For Me that challenge the stereotypes that still shape too many interactions today.

Beyond funding, we have taken meaningful steps to change systems—the kind of change that lasts. We have introduced new construction standards that will make homes more accessible and more adaptable. We have amended the Disability Inclusion Act to strengthen co-design and to better reflect people's lived experiences. We now have a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy across the public sector, including stronger employment targets for people with disability. We have legislated for phone voting for people with vision impairments or mobility limitations. We have modernised the disability parking permit scheme. We have launched the State Disability Inclusion Plan 2025-2029, a plan built on real priorities and real voices.

We have also brought a new level of focus to neurodivergence in South Australia, appointing the nation's first ever Minister for Autism, delivering our state's first Autism Strategy, introducing quiet hour at Service SA centres, and taking the Sensory Bus to events and festivals so that inclusion meets people where they are, not the other way around. In my electorate of Davenport, I have held forums for the autistic community, and I am excited to be co-hosting next month a session alongside legendary local social worker Amelia Wright, which will be specifically for girls and women navigating ADHD and autism. Most recently, this government stepped in to save Australia's second largest disability employment provider, Bedford, safeguarding the jobs, dignity and futures of around 1,250 workers and clients.

On a personal level, many in this place would know of my advocacy for people living with motor neurone disease (MND). MND sits painfully at the junction of the health and disability systems. In the past, many would not receive care until it was too late. I am proud that this government has invested in specialised care and has stood firmly with advocates to ensure timely access to the federal supports that people with MND desperately need and absolutely deserve.

When we remove barriers we unlock potential, not only for individuals but for our entire community. Inclusion benefits all of us, and a more accessible South Australia is good for everyone. Today, on this International Day of People with Disability, I ask this parliament to reaffirm our commitment to creating a state where every person is valued and heard and every barrier is dismantled. We should commit to being a state that fosters social progress through inclusion, not just in words or on days of recognition but every single day in the decisions that we make.

Finally, I am proud that next Wednesday the people's house—this parliament—will shine blue to mark this important day and to stand visibly with South Australians living with disability. I commend the motion to the house.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:36): I rise to make a contribution to this motion on International Day of People with Disability. There has been a conversation between myself, the minister and the member for Davenport over my contribution. It was going to be an amended contribution, and I think it has been now. I think we have come to a compromise where we can partially leave politics to one side, particularly for the very sensitive issue of disability and it being the International Day of People with Disability.

It needs to be recognised that this is about the people; it is not about the politics. Too many politicians over time have grandstanded about what they have done for disability. My view is that there is never enough. How much is enough? As I said, there is never enough.

As part of this motion I want to again recognise the State Disability Inclusion Plan. It is an important commitment to improving the inclusion and access of South Australians living with a disability. It rings quite true that we here in this chamber represent all of our constituents, but I think there is always an ability for us to put a focus on those who are less advantaged and those who are living with a disability. Some are living with more severe issues. I think it needs to be highlighted that some people are less fortunate and do not have the lives that others have. But having a disability does not mean that a person is any less; what it means is that they have other challenges in life.

This morning I had the great pleasure of meeting with The Disability Divas, a couple of ladies who are great ambassadors for the disability sector. They are a couple of women who are passionate about giving a louder voice to those with a disability, particularly in the education system. They are mothers who have children with quite severe disabilities who are at the Adelaide North Special School. They continue to advocate strongly for a fairer outcome for their children and advocate for all children with disabilities attending an educational institution.

Bri and Tori are parents of children with severe and complex disabilities, and they are drawing on lived experience, their advocacy background and ongoing collaboration with local schools. They have come together and founded The Disability Divas. They consider themselves as a parent-led initiative, dedicated to fostering truly inclusive, supportive and neuro-affirming school communities.

We understand that raising and educating children with additional needs can be rewarding and challenging. Many families face isolation and frustration as they navigate through the complex systems, as they navigate their way through the bureaucracy—some more caring than others, some more compassionate than others. Sadly, there is always more to be done to give them the help and assistance to make their life more streamlined. It is also about these two women sharing their experiences with people like me and the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, the shadow education minister, who was part of that meeting this morning and, from what we have seen, there is a lot more to be done.

The inclusion plan is great, but my experience this morning gave me the opportunity to better understand how we live, how we deal with and how we best manage—whether that be children with a disability or whether that be an environment that enables those with a disability. It is not just children with disability; it is adults and the like. It needs to be recognised that they have special needs. They need more attention, they need more care; they need specialised attention and specialised care to give them a quality of life.

I have learnt this morning that it is the mission of The Disability Divas to bridge the gap and to work along with schools, educators and parent communities. They have both been on governing council and they are both passionate about making the disability community a better community. They came to me this morning to establish a mentor parents and carers support group within schools, helping them as a valuable part of the school structure; to provide parent-to-parent guidance and lived experience insight to staff and leadership teams; to seek to better understand and engage with families of children with additional needs; and to promote neuro-affirming and inclusive practices that strengthen relationships between families, schools and the service system.

As they said, 'Our approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration and practical solutions delivered from one parent to another, and we believe this model could be an effective, low-cost way to enhance inclusion and wellbeing outcomes across the education sector.' I use that as part of my contribution today because it was a very powerful meeting; it was a very powerful message that they sent to me this morning to better understand.

I have a very good grasp on the education system, and particularly with special schools, and I believe the current education minister has been up to the Riverland Special School. I visit there twice yearly, not only for end-of-year activities but to give the school support—those teachers, those care workers, those support workers, particularly in the Riverland. Natalie Coote is the principal at the Riverland Special School. She is an outstanding person, an outstanding educator and an outstanding leader. You can see the way that she embraces the school, the way that she leads and gives that school a bounce in its step. She gives those teachers, those educators, those support staff the help that they need, making sure that that school is front and centre for those students with a high level of need.

Along the way, as an elected member, we have to make sure that we get that message out there: one in five South Australians live with a disability. By improving accessibility and by improving inclusion, every South Australian benefits. That really does speak volumes on how South Australia should be stimulating our economy. It has flow-on effects to our health sector and makes a contribution to the workforce. There are business and job opportunities, particularly in the area of volunteering. I am now noticing—because I have been made aware—how important it is to engage those with disabilities. To be part of a volunteer sector cannot be understated. It is a really important motion that needs to have a brighter light shone on it. It is the responsibility of every MP here in this chamber and in the other house to ensure that they make a positive contribution to the disability sector.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Did you wish to move an amendment?

Mr WHETSTONE: I move to amend the motion as follows:

Remove paragraph (d) and replace with:

(d) recognises the State Disability Inclusion Plan 2025-2029 as an important commitment to improving inclusion and access for South Australians living with disability.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:45): I thank the member for Chaffey for his contribution and also his request for the amendment. I just indicate that we will be accepting his additional point as an addition rather than instead of. So the member for Chaffey's addition becomes paragraph (d) and then we also have paragraph (e) which is the current (d). So the new paragraph (d) recognises the State Disability Inclusion Plan.

Mr WHETSTONE: The amendment to the motion is to delete the original paragraph (d) and replace it with a new paragraph (d).

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: My understanding is you are indicating there was some agreement. The mover of the original motion suggested slightly different wording, with yours being an additional paragraph. At the moment, unless there is another person who can move an amendment to the amendment, I will have to put the amendment first and then the original motion and you will not get agreement. So what is it that you wish to do? You would like to stay with the amendment? Minister, do you wish to move the further amendment?

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Minister for Police) (12:47): I am glad I have an opportunity to be involved. I am moving an amendment to the amendment, I understand, which is to strike out paragraph (d) and replace with 'recognises the State Disability Inclusion Plan 2025-2029 as an important commitment to improving inclusion and access for South Australians living with disability.'

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are seeking to put back in the original wording and add the additional wording which the member for Chaffey has; is that correct? Yes. I understand what has been moved and amended. My understanding, under parliamentary procedure, is that if you move an amendment to remove some words, which the member for Chaffey wishes to do, you cannot move a further amendment to put it back in. The solution will have to be that you just vote against the amendment. The further amendment is disallowed. I will give the member for Davenport an opportunity to speak to her original motion and close the debate.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:50): Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Obviously, the processes are not set up for us to agree with each other. As I was saying, I appreciate the member for Chaffey's addition and contribution to the debate. I think the member for Chaffey's story about his visit with The Disability Divas this morning is a perfect example of a member of parliament going out and seeking to learn more about this matter and how it impacts people. That is what this motion is about today. I commend it to the house.

Amendment negatived; motion carried.