Disability Services

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding disability.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Bourke has the call.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Three recent horror stories regarding people with disability have disturbed many in the community: first, Kelly Vincent, a powerful advocate and a former member of this council, went without basic care, including bathing, for three days during a recent hospital stay; and secondly, Dr Dee-Price, an academic researcher and disability advocate, was forced to publicly fight to get basic equipment to ensure safe care in the hospital system for her 17-year old son over the last two years. Most recently, she and her son had to suffer the indignity of an examination in a public toilet, with an open door and no privacy, because there was nowhere else in the Women's and Children's Hospital with the appropriate equipment for the examination.

Thirdly, and with the greatest risk to life, a person in the DHS transition to home service was neglected and experienced a severe wound infection before being rushed to hospital and spending weeks there. The circumstances of this case reminded us of the tragedy that occurred with Annie Smith last year. My questions to the minister are:

1. Minister, Ms Vincent is a past employee of your department who has resources and a high profile. Given that she cannot get basic disability care while under the roof of a state government institution, how many others with less capacity to speak out are suffering in silence?

2. How exactly is the experience of all three cases consistent with disability access inclusion plans that are required under a law committed to the Minister for Human Services, or does the minister think that this kind of treatment of people with disability is okay?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her question. We do find all of these cases distressing to hear about our system, and we are always seeking to improve services. I have outlined in this chamber before the specific services run by DHS, where we have undertaken significant reforms to implement zero tolerance to anything that can be classified as neglect or abuse.

In terms of the disability action and inclusion plans, that was a piece of legislation commenced under the former government and was the first piece of legislation passed by this parliament under the new government. I have been very pleased that all agencies have contributed to the disability action and inclusion plans.

Certainly we know from people with lived experience that the most dangerous situations for them are when they are isolated, so inclusion is part of them achieving full participation, not accepting second best in terms of services and ensuring that we have actions where every agency is improving the way that it deals with matters.

In terms of the health side of things, I do know that each of the LHNs have done their own disability action and inclusion plans. I am sure that my colleague the Minister for Health and Wellbeing is aware of these cases that have come up. I know he is aware of particularly the Hon. Ms Vincent, who is well known to us, and a number of us have reached out to her. Specific matters that fall within health and wellbeing I think my colleague would be delighted to address how that best should be managed going forward. It is something we are always working towards improving.