DISABILITY SERVICES ACT

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Disabilities a question in relation to the Disability Services Act.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 19 October 2011, the Social Inclusion Board released its disability blueprint titled Strong Voices, A Blueprint to Enhance Life and Claim the Rights of People with Disability in South Australia (2012-20). The blueprint recommended a new disability act to replace the existing Disability Services Act. On 19 December 2011, Premier Weatherill announced that the government would be drafting a new disability act.

Given that the sector has been waiting 19 years for a new act and given Premier Weatherill's commitment, when will the minister be tabling the government's bill to change the Disability Services Act or, alternatively, will the minister expedite the process by taking the Hon. Kelly Vincent's Disability Services (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill as a basis for public consultation on changes to the act?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:38): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. The government is committed to bringing in a bill for a new act, as we have said publicly a number of times. It was a recommendation that the government accepted in the Strong Voices report which we took to cabinet. My department is working on a range of proposals for me in consideration of a new act and, once we have a draft act that we take through to cabinet, we will put that out for public consultation.