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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-13 Daily Xml
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Motions

International Day of People with Disability

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (11:29): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises International Day of People with Disability on 3 December; and

(b) acknowledges the important social and economic contribution South Australians living with a disability provide when sufficiently supported to participate and engage in society.

I rise to recognise the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December and acknowledge the important social and economic contribution that South Australians living with disability provide when sufficiently supported to participate and engage in society.

Each year, the International Day of People with Disability is held on 3 December. In December 1992, the United Nations appealed to governments around the world to observe this important day. We use this day to celebrate the lives and contributions of people with disability all over the world. We aim to increase awareness and understanding of disability-related issues and the achievements of people with disability within our community.

In Australia, we celebrate certain people in our community more than others, people such as sports stars and celebrities. Most people with disability do not want special praise. They just want a chance at an ordinary life where they can be celebrated within their own communities as equal citizens. I acknowledge people with disability I have met who are living and working in our community today, some of whom are working and contributing when they were told they would do nothing but sit in institutions.

Over 4.4 million people in Australia have some form of disability—that is one in five people—and 2.1 million Australians of working age have disability. Unfortunately, of these, just over a million are employed, with another 114,900 looking for work. It is not just about work. The important social and economic benefits people living with disability provide to South Australia also include those who volunteer. We know that there are about 2.3 million people in Australia living with disability or long-term health conditions who volunteer in Australia. People with disability who volunteer make up 33 per cent of this population compared to people without disability who volunteer, making up 39 per cent of that population.

This important day today enables us to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilise support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disability. It allows us to increase awareness of the rights and the objectives to be derived from every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of persons with disability and, importantly, to reflect upon those persons closest to us whose lifestyles and daily routines are affected because of a lack of access.

Our friends, neighbours, colleagues and relatives need us to ensure that we implement positive policies which mean that people living with disability can work, have access to public transport and participate in school, TAFE, university, life and more. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, persons with disability face discrimination and barriers that restrict them from participating in society on an equal footing with others on a daily basis.

It is more difficult to be included in the school system and employment, to live independently in the community, to move freely and to participate in sport and cultural activities. Although responsibility for people living with a disability has now passed to the commonwealth through its national disability scheme, which is excellent for the most part, there is still a long way for it to go before it achieves the ultimate goal. As the shadow minister for human services, I will continue to advocate to this state government and the federal government on their promises to deliver inclusion for people with disability and to properly implement and fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

There are currently thousands of South Australians living with disability who are facing uncertainty regarding their ongoing care and support because of the Marshall Liberal government and its failure to guarantee funding certainty for essential disability services, the responsibility for which still lies with the state, as the NDIS is not designed to meet the needs of all Australians with a disability. This includes adequate detail around the South Australian taxi subsidy scheme, in particular.

It is important to acknowledge that not all South Australians living with disability will qualify for the NDIS. The state government must stop ignoring disability support services that rely on block funding arrangements for those who are not on the NDIS. The NDIS has the potential to be of life-changing benefit to people living with a disability. That is its potential, but only if it is managed effectively and actually fully implemented.

Without the service guarantees, people living with disability are less mobile and less able to live their lives with choice and freedom. This means that they have less opportunity to spend time with family and friends, that they are less able to get to work and that their quality of life is damaged. NDIS funding is meant to improve their lives, but mismanagement means that their lives are harder rather than easier. People living with disability in rural and regional areas are particularly vulnerable to this because their services are so specialised and specific to their needs.

This means that their anxiety about continuity of funding is particularly high. The government needs to take steps to ease this anxiety. It must be a priority for this government, and we are not seeing that yet. I mentioned earlier the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS). Around 5,000 vulnerable South Australians are still up to $5,000 worse off under this current Liberal government's revised taxi subsidy scheme.

Just last month, after six months of petitions, rallies and action by the disability community, supported by the Labor Party as well as the Access cab operators in South Australia, the government announced the extension of the South Australian taxi subsidy scheme, providing either a 50 per cent or 75 per cent subsidy for those living with disability to get to appointments and to prevent isolation. Whilst I and all the people advocating, including the disability community, welcome an extension, it is concerning that hundreds and hundreds of vulnerable South Australians are being left out of pocket because of the transport funding deficit offered by the NDIS.

This lack of certainty still sits within the SATSS announcement. The state and federal Liberal governments both assured Australians that the state and federal systems would be cashed out into an appropriate transport funding system under the NDIS. I have an anecdotal story from Avril Meyer, who works as a public servant:

My disability at times can make transport rather difficult due to fragile bones and being in a wheelchair. I can become reliant on the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS)/Journey to Work Subsidy Scheme (JTWSS) to ensure I can continue to participate equally and inclusively within society.

Avril has reported quite specifically that the lack of funding for transport services through her NDIS plan leaves her $6,800.64 out of pocket, which makes it very hard for her to get to work and to make the contribution to society and the economy that she wants to make. These barriers must be overcome.

I have spoken to so many people who have laid out the loss of their transport subsidy from their NDIS plan. Without these assurities, without these certainties, people living with disability cannot achieve the full, successful life that we want to see and that they want to see. It is appalling that people are being left to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get to appointments, events, training or work to prevent social isolation.

I have spoken before about the $3,500 of mobility allowance that is still not being provided, but that was being provided through Centrelink. I am calling on the federal and state governments to pull their fingers out and to sort out transport subsidies for all vulnerable South Australians. I celebrate all South Australians living with disability. I look forward to attending and seeing all members at the celebrations in Victoria Square, along with the Lifetime Support Authority, a great organisation, and many others on Friday 6 December from 11am. I commend the motion to the house.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (11:39): I move to amend the motion as follows:

After paragraph (b), insert:

(c) recognises the state's first Disability Inclusion Plan, Inclusive SA, as an important step in improving access and inclusion for people with disability.

This year, the theme for the 2019 International Day of People with Disability is 'The future is accessible', and nothing is more fitting to support that theme than the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to working toward an inclusive and accessible future for all South Australians living with a disability.

We are very proud, as a government, that this work has been undertaken. In fact part of the government's first 100 days in office was the commitment to advance the Disability Inclusion Bill 2018, which in fact became the first piece of legislation passed in parliament, with the act commencing 1 July 2018 under the new government. This signals our government's commitment, and we applaud the Premier for progressing this.

The legal framework supported the development of South Australia's first state disability inclusion plan, Inclusive SA, which was gazetted on 31 October this year. It is a commitment we made, provided for under the legislation, and it has been delivered. It guides and coordinates the consistent approach to disability inclusion by bringing state government agencies and local councils together to reduce the barriers faced by people living with disability. All disability access and inclusion plans will be required to outline strategies that improve outcomes for people with disability in areas such as access to built environments, information, communication, transport services, programs and employment. I reiterate 'transport', given the previous contribution.

Whilst Inclusive SA sets the focus for the next four years, it is a living document that will respond to shifting priorities and new information. The government will revise the plan in two years to reflect social, political and environmental changes and to accommodate any recommendations that are approved as made by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Can I say that the government is proud to recognise that employing people with a disability brings a range of skills, abilities and qualifications to the workplace and reflects the greater community. People living with a disability make strong connections with customers, boost team morale and enhance business image. In light of the commitment to giving opportunities in employment, the government includes several actions in the state disability inclusion plan.

These relate to item 12, which is to develop a communications strategy to promote BoardingCall, the South Australian government's recruitment register for boards and committees, to ensure it is promoted to people living with a disability; item 37, which is to support and promote the implementation of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Sector Employment; item 38, which is to increase employment opportunities across all levels in the South Australian public sector through targeting of job opportunities for people living with a disability under section 65 of the Public Sector Act; and item 39, which is to develop data measures to track the percentage of people living with a disability employed and retained in state authorities.

Many members will remember the life of Quentin Kenihan. His passing brought with it an announcement by the government of $1 million for the City of Adelaide to build an inclusive park commemorating his legacy as a disability advocate, actor and filmmaker and someone who really warmed the hearts of many South Australians. The regional play space, which has been integrated into Rymill Park, replacing the existing play space, will be of course most welcome, in addition to other inclusive playgrounds. Guidelines will be published on these later in the year.

The website accessibility across government initiative, which was established on Global Accessibility Awareness Day on 16 May this year, is in essence an online accessibility policy with a supporting online accessibility toolkit, which has been worked on in consultation with Vision Australia, the Royal Society for the Blind and people with lived experience with a disability and other key stakeholders. The announcement of the role of the Disability Advocate and the appointment this year of David Caudrey, who commenced as the Disability Advocate in January, have been important initiatives. We commend him already for the work that he is doing in this area.

Notwithstanding the member's previous contribution, South Australia committed $749 million to NDIS to support the delivery of quality services for South Australians, which has reached full scheme transition in June this year. There is also the National Disability Strategy, on which South Australia, along with other states and territories, is working with the national team to ensure that we develop the National Disability Strategy 2010-20.

Finally, there is the federal royal commission. As Attorney-General, I have responsibility in respect of the state's role in royal commissions. The state government has committed $5.5 million in our 2019-20 budget, dedicated specifically to a central response unit to address and coordinate the South Australian government's response to the commonwealth Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. This is in addition to a commitment made earlier this year to provide $3.2 million to set up a similar response unit in relation to the aged-care quality and safety unit that operates.

Our government is vitally committed to the advancement of those who are living in South Australia with a disability. As demonstrated by the work that has been undertaken in the first 18 months of this government, we are here to make a real life-changing difference to those in South Australia.

From my own perspective, can I say that every time I look at an announcement or a proposal or a strategy for a person with a disability, I think of my own cousin who was born with a lack of oxygen. He has never walked or talked. He is now a man in his 50s. He has been a joy to our family. He is now living semi-independently from his parents. His father recently passed away. Together with his mother, my aunt, now in mature years, they spent a lifetime in dedication to his care. He is now making other people's lives happy: those with whom he lives and others on Kangaroo Island. I always look at disability initiatives within his prism and say, 'How would this affect Phillip?' For me, this is Phillip's Law.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (11:47): I would like to speak today on the motion brought forward by the member for Hurtle Vale. What is life all about? It is pretty simple for most people: loving family and friends, keeping healthy, having an active social life and a job. However, for many people with a disability, the last item on this list—having a job—is surprisingly hard to achieve.

It is very unfortunate that some people who may not have had direct contact with people with some form of disability may not understand what capabilities these people have. Over four million people in Australia have some form of disability. That is one in five people; 18.6 per cent of females, and 18 per cent of males in Australia have a disability. The likelihood of living with a disability increases with age. A person who may have a disability can have a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activity.

There are many forms of disability. The three most common physical disabilities could include acquired brain injuries, epilepsy or cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis (MS). Disabled people may express depression and social isolation as a result of their limitations. They may also experience financial instability as a result of their mental or physical limitations. Can you imagine being confined to a restricted vehicular unit, being in a wheelchair or confined to a bed, and how that might impact on your mental wellbeing?

I have had numerous contacts with people who suffer from autism and also from Autism SA. These people are very capable of carrying out various tasks throughout their lives and in the community. While autism is classified as a disability, for the time being there is no special medicine or treatment that would make it go away. No-one can catch it from being near you. People with an autism spectrum disorder usually live a very normal life.

In Port Pirie and surrounding regional locations, we have very good facilities for people with a disability, including organisations like Bedford, Orana and SCOSA. These organisations not only provide assistance for those with an issue but, very importantly, give great support to the parents of these children or youths. They also allow these people to feel pride, as not only can they associate with others who may have similar issues but, very importantly, they can be proud to contribute something to society by making various items or products for the respective organisations.

I have previously spoken in this house about Kellie Martlew in particular, who has progressed from attending one of these organisations to now working for Woolworths. I first met Kellie some years ago. I also come into contact with various others who are being given the opportunity to work in other areas, including Woolworths, Coles, Spencer Motors Port Pirie and other firms. Kellie Martlew, in particular, has attained great achievements in the Special Olympics, playing tenpin bowling, and attending the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Kellie worked extremely hard to achieve this position. She had the support of our community and the business community throughout, not only physical and mental support but also financial support. In her journey, Kellie has been accompanied locally by other people who have had similar issues, including those working in other organisations or in the private sector.

Recently, I was privileged to be involved with the Lions Club of Port Pirie, who suggested that there was an opportunity to provide a Liberty Swing for the Mid North Education Centre at Port Pirie. The Liberty Swing is a swing where a person in a wheelchair or someone confined to a bed can be put into a swing apparatus, secured and locked in, and be able to actually swing. The member for Stuart was there as the minister representing the Premier at the opening of this swing.

The Mid North Education Centre accommodates children who have some form of disability, including those who are confined to a wheelchair, and one particular child, Georgia, who is basically confined to a bed. These children cannot participate in recreational activities, such as being on a swing and enjoying swinging in the air and things everybody else takes for granted.

As I said earlier, the Liberty Swing allows children in wheelchairs or in a bed, as in Georgia's case, to be locked into the enclosure and enjoy being pushed through the air. Just to see the faces and the look in their eyes when they were in this apparatus was something money cannot buy. The funds to achieve this were also supported by the Premier with a grant of up to nearly $10,000 towards the total cost, which was in the vicinity of $75,000.

After seeing the faces of these children, my concern about this facility is: what happens in out-of-school hours or during school holidays? There is nothing else similar in our community for these people to enjoy outside the school grounds. Therefore, I have made a suggestion to the Port Pirie Regional Council that it utilises some of the funds achieved many years ago by the sale to Country Health SA of the Port Pirie YMCA clubrooms and to put them in a trust fund. I have suggested that perhaps the Port Pirie Regional Council could utilise a portion of these funds, together with any community finances, state, local or private funds that may be available to supplement the proposal, to provide a similar facility for children with a disability to enjoy this activity outside school hours.

We must always remember that just because someone has a disability it does not preclude them from participating in the community, nor should they excluded from other activities that others may take for granted. In closing, I want to say how emotional it can be when you see your own grandchildren enjoying facilities and activities that normal people enjoy and then see that these other children cannot enjoy what we in this community and in this house have taken for granted over many years.

To see the expression on these children's faces is worth a million dollars. Every one of us in this house, and everybody in our communities and in our great state, should appreciate and respect those people and make certain that we provide as many opportunities for them to enjoy as we do for other children. Again, I commend this motion to the house.

Ms LUETHEN (King) (11:54): I rise to speak today in support of this motion on behalf of people living in King, and I thank the member for Hurtle Vale for bringing this motion to parliament. I also wholeheartedly support the Attorney-General's amendments and words today, as well as the words spoken by the member for Frome. Each year, the United Nations announces a theme to consider how to address barriers to inclusion in society. The theme for 2019 is 'The future is accessible'. What a great theme and vision. Today, I am so pleased to talk about what the government is doing to drive real change and make progress—deeds, not just words.

This year's theme fits seamlessly with the Marshall Liberal government's ongoing commitment to working towards an inclusive and accessible future for all South Australians living with a disability. We are proud of the work undertaken in this space since coming to government. An accessible and inclusive state means everyone can actively participate in and access all aspects of life, despite their age, disability, gender, religion, sexual preference or nationality. This includes, but is not limited to, services, places, events, education, training information, housing, law and justice, and employment. It is a place where everyone can feel safe, respected and comfortable being themselves.

By improving accessibility and inclusion in South Australia, everyone will benefit. An accessible and inclusive South Australia can stimulate our economy, increase tourism, improve business reputations, improve employment opportunities, increase employment satisfaction, improve community participation, breakdown stigma, improve life expectancy and increase physical and mental health.

The Marshall Liberal government recognises that people living with a disability play a vital and valuable role in shaping the state's social and economic future. As part of the Marshall Liberal government's first 100 days in office, the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 became the first piece of legislation passed in parliament and commenced 1 July 2018. The legislation signalled the government's commitment to create a more inclusive South Australia. The act provides a legal framework to support equal access and participation for people with disabilities in the community, including recreation, education, health, employment and transport.

A key requirement of the act is the development of South Australia's first state disability inclusion plan, now called Inclusive SA, which was gazetted on 31 October this year. Inclusive SA outlines the state government's vision for an accessible and inclusive South Australia based on fairness and respect. It guides a coordinated and consistent approach to disability inclusion by bringing state government agencies and local councils together to reduce the barriers faced by people living with disability.

All disability access and inclusion plans will now be required to outline strategies that improve outcomes for people with a disability in areas such as access to built environments, information, communication, transport services, programs and employment. Whilst Inclusive SA sets the focus for the next four years, it is also a living document that will respond to shifting priorities and new information.

Our government is committed to giving people a say before decisions are made, and we gathered feedback into this new Inclusive SA strategy through talking to the community about our state plan and asking for their thoughts, their recommendations and their priorities. We talked with the community about our state plan in March and April 2019, and 384 people told us what they think should be in our state plan. Some of the other people we talked to were family members, carers, people who work with people with a disability, people who work for the state and local governments, and researchers.

We talked to groups in our community. There are many groups in our community who face extra barriers and challenges. These groups include women with disabilities, children with disabilities, people with disability from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, people with disabilities who come from different cultures and people with disabilities who speak languages other than English at home.

We also subsequently used YourSAy for online engagement from 6 August to 30 August 2019. People had myriad ways and opportunities to provide input by joining this discussion. This consultation is crucial because people with disabilities are not always included when we make decisions, and they should be. They must be included in the design of strategy and the execution of plans.

If we look at the limited numbers of people with disability elected to councils or state and federal government who are directly involved in strategy directions, decision-making and policy and lawmaking, we see that these numbers are too low. Therefore, right now, incorporating the lived experience that is provided during consultation discussions is critical. It is important and makes perfect sense to include people living with disabilities in the decisions that affect them.

We have listened and will continue to listen to what would make quality of life better and what would provide fairer access to opportunities. The government will revise the new plan in two years to reflect social, political and environmental changes, as well as any response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Unfortunately, people living with disability face discrimination and encounter barriers to public services and shared spaces, and things many of us take for granted can be hard to use or simply inaccessible. One in five South Australians report having a disability and we are committed to supporting them to fulfil their potential as citizens.

Furthermore, the Marshall Liberal government recognises that employing people with disability brings a range of skills, abilities and qualifications to the workplace that reflects the greater community. People living with disability make strong connections with customers, boost team morale and enhance business image. Research shows that employees living with disability also create real business cost savings as they take fewer days off and stay in jobs longer than other employees, therefore reducing staff turnover and lowering recruitment and retainment costs.

People living with disability can also often provide creative and innovative business solutions, as they are used to having to find solutions to difficult and sometimes complex problems that require an open mind, creativity and flexibility. Inclusive workplaces are also more likely to generate and attract employees who are more engaged, motivated and productive.

Whilst across Australia improvement has been made in this area, we acknowledge more work needs to be done to increase employment for people living with disability, and many people have come to my office to discuss this. In light of this, the Marshall Liberal government included several actions in the State Disability Inclusion Plan, Inclusive SA, to assist in improving access to employment opportunities and provide better support within workplaces for people living with disability. South Australians have a proud history of commitment to equality and justice and now we will take steps to ensure people with disability have equal opportunities.

In closing, I wish to thank the people living in my community in King who advocate and help people living with disability. A special mention to parents, SSOs and advocates like Ben Waechter, who advocates statewide to improve the lives of people living with disability. I met Ben at the City of Salisbury, having a say on behalf of people living with disability. Ben has also initiated the KYD-X Expo and puts his heart and soul into helping parents learn about all the choices available to make things more accessible for people in their lives and helping every person reach their full potential. A special mention also to Cathy, who leads the Empowering Futures service, which is an awesome service provider enriching people's lives.

I encourage my community to share their experience with me and to educate me in their lived experience. I look forward to my community's feedback about how we can make South Australia more inclusive for all—every person, every chance. I totally support this motion.

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (12:04): I rise to support the member for Hurtle Vale's motion:

That this house—

(a) recognises International Day of People with Disability on 3 December; and

(b) acknowledges the important social and economic contribution South Australians living with a disability provide when sufficiently supported to participate and engage in society.

To have a full and active life involves more than just education, employment and access to services and facilities, although we all agree these are very, very important. Social inclusion is often put at the end of a long list of needs; however, social isolation is something experienced by many people with disability.

You cannot underestimate the power of sport when it comes to developing a range of life skills: teamwork, cooperation, the challenges of handling disappointment and defeat, and working towards a common goal as a team. Sport is also a great stress reliever and helps develop self-esteem, independence and self-worth. In my electorate of Mount Gambier, there are people who work very hard to improve the access and participation of people with disability in sporting and recreational activities. They do not do it for publicity or awards and most of the time the only payment is a smile and a thankyou.

In regional communities, sport is an institution, a huge part of life. In Mount Gambier, the Tigers Netball Club has been running for nearly 30 years and, like many sporting organisations, it has been run solely by volunteers. It is a team that specifically caters for people with disabilities to play sport, engage with other people and compete against other regional teams. Danielle Burford stepped in to run the team 14 years ago not because she had a child with a disability but because she saw the benefits the team was having on other players. With a social work background, Danielle and other local volunteers got the club incorporated and helped apply for funding for uniforms and a trailer.

Whether you have a physical, neurological or intellectual disability, you are welcome at the Tigers. There are no criteria; it is for all abilities. Some players are on the spectrum, have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or play with a walking frame. Danielle says the best thing for her is watching the players support each other and how they cheer each other on. The players like travelling away to carnivals, getting away from routine and getting to know people from other teams. Most importantly, they all enjoy being part of something.

Danielle says she gets more pleasure out of it than the players and says the team has become part of her life, so much so that she even invited all of them to her own wedding. After her own two children were born, Danielle had to take a step back to concentrate on her own family. Like all volunteer-run organisations, they are struggling to find people with the right skill set to take on roles so the team can continue.

The Commercial League is another long-running local team that welcomes players of all abilities. Every Wednesday night, around 50 bowlers take over the lanes of Mount Gambier's only tenpin bowling alley in a competition that has been running for more than 20 years. For those who have not watched, it has quite an atmosphere. Joyce Cleggett has been keeping the league going for 14 years by sorting out teams, collecting money, organising presentation nights and keeping it all flowing smoothly. Her oldest son Keith, who has Down syndrome, has been playing the game for 15 years.

Joyce says the main objective is just to have fun and have a bit of friendly competition. The players are of all skills and abilities but on the lanes all are equal. Earlier this year, the league faced a major challenge—the potential loss of their venue after it was shut down unexpectedly. Joyce says that the players were upset and for 10 weeks nobody got to bowl, and the social value of the team in people's lives became very apparent. Luckily, the venue was taken over and reopened and the team was able to play again.

You only have to look at events such as the Paralympics and the Invictus Games to see how much of an impact sport can have on the lives of those participating. This year, Paralympian Kurt Fearnley is the patron for International Day of People with Disability, and he wants to use the role as a launching pad for further action. He says:

People with disability are entitled to the same respect, independence and choice as others and we need to talk honestly about the barriers in society and work together to break them down.

Teams like the Tigers and Commercial League are great examples of people working together at a local level to break down barriers. I would like to take this opportunity to give credit to Danielle, Joyce and all those people in our community who take the time to organise these team events and make a difference in the lives of people living with a disability. With that, I commend the motion to the house.

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (12:10): I rise today, like other members, to support the motion that recognises the International Day of People with Disability, ahead of the formal day on 3 December 2019. A very broad range of topics has been covered so far in regard to disability within our state and more broadly. The first section of commentary I would like to make is that I think we are starting to move towards a society that really recognises the broad and vast array of people who are captured by the term 'disability'.

What is helpful for one person even within the same group or level of disability is not necessarily what empowers or strengthens the life of somebody else. That was the main underpinning argument and rationale for the introduction of the NDIS, and I think it was broadly welcomed by absolutely everybody within the community. At its core, it is about the individual, whether that be across the sectors of employment, sport or the media.

I think the goal, in terms of the forward progress within the area that everyone is seeking to achieve, is to reach a point where the community does not judge or make a determination of somebody's ability before engaging with, talking to and understanding that individual. While we still have a long way to go in that area, we are certainly making progress. Raising the profile of people with a disability within each of those sectors and across public life more broadly only helps to further that cause.

I was very pleased to hear that Kurt Fearnley was recognised as the patron of International Day of People with Disability in Australia this year. Kurt and I were colleagues for a long period of time. He is a man who is certainly very passionate about furthering the cause of people with a disability in Australia and more broadly. On a personal note, I would like to wish him well for his future.

The member for Frome touched on the issue of employment, which is key to the empowerment of the sector. Whilst I do not necessarily think that employment is any more or less important for somebody with a disability than for anybody else within our community, it certainly allows everybody to function, move and empower themselves. We have seen within the private sector a growth in willingness to engage and put forward employment programs. I take this opportunity to encourage the private sector to continue that growth.

A range of research has been done around the impact of people with a disability on particular organisations. While I will not go into specifics today, there have been very favourable results in terms of productivity, reliability and, importantly, loyalty of those employees within their organisations, and of the value they can deliver, not just by widening the diversity within the workplace but primarily in terms of the return that business can have through employing that person.

I certainly welcomed the passing of the Disability Inclusion Act and, subsequent to that, the launch of the State Disability Inclusion Plan in South Australia. I think it is very sensible for us as a state to set out a vision for the future we want to see in our community for people with a disability. I acknowledge the work that the state is doing around a range of different areas—some big, some small. There are a couple of programs in particular I would just like to draw attention to.

One that was brought to the fore by the Deputy Premier in her contribution was the legacy of Quentin Kenihan and the inclusive park within the City of Adelaide, which was certainly a vision that he personally held for a long period of time. I am very glad that the state was able to make this come to fruition, and it is very appropriate that his legacy is honoured in that manner.

I also bring attention to a very small program within the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure that identifies bus stops that are barriers and ways to make those bus stops more inclusive. I have had personal reflections from members of the community, recognising the great work that DPTI is doing in that area to make our public transport system more accessible. While some of these things are not necessarily at the front of people's minds on a day-to-day basis, the small things do matter and I am very happy to see that continue.

On a different note, I acknowledge and recognise the fact that the state, with forethought, has provided funding for the response unit to the royal commission that is underway. No matter which level of government you are in and no matter which part of society you are in, the equal treatment of everybody is obviously something we strive towards. This royal commission is an opportunity for improvement, something that I think everybody wants to see. It is probably going to reveal a range of issues that are certainly suboptimal but, at the same time, improvement and moving forward is something that we all have to strive for.

In terms of the broader scenario, I again acknowledge members for their contributions on this motion. Everybody has a wideranging viewpoint on the issue, and certainly that reflects the sector itself. As I touched on at the start, no disability affects an individual in the same way, just as a different range of things affects everyone completely differently. No set of parents or individual copes or manages a set of circumstances in the same way. We certainly always have to have that lens across the sector.

Finally, I wish the participants of the Tri State Games the best of luck as they compete this week. For members who are unaware, the Tri State Games is an annual event that brings together athletes with a disability across southern Australia. For the last two years, the event has been held in the Port Adelaide and broader western suburbs region. I am lucky enough to be their patron and I had the privilege of opening the games on the weekend. I wish them the best of luck and welcome those from interstate to our state. I certainly support this motion and look forward to hearing other contributions.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (12:18): I rise to support the motion put forward by my colleague the member for Hurtle Vale. Certainly, it is an area of public policy, and it is very important that we get it right. I will not repeat everything said by other speakers, who have probably said it better than I can, but I agree that we are doing things better in terms of public policy in this area than we used to. We still have a long way to go. We still have a number of barriers in our thinking in terms of dealing with people who are living with disability.

There are a couple of areas I would like to highlight, which have come to my attention on a number of occasions. On the issue of transport, I am aware that the minister made some comments a few weeks ago about how he had essentially solved this problem, but I would respectfully disagree with that interpretation. I would suggest that—

The Hon. S.K. Knoll: Your glass is always half empty, isn't it, Tony?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I would respectfully disagree with the minister and certainly with the people who—

Mr Duluk: You can't respond to interjections.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Sorry? What are you talking about?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Waite is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Light.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I would have thought that this is an area of public policy that members may have an interest in—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is—

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: —and deal with respectfully.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: —and it is a very important motion.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Members may wish to sidetrack, and if they want to make a contribution they should do so, but perhaps they should listen because this is an area of public policy that we still need to get right. We are doing it much better than we did, but to suggest, as some people have in this place, that we have got it right, that we have solved the problem, is just a nonsense. I will give the example of public transport. We were told a week or so ago that the matter had been resolved, but that is certainly not the understanding of people living with disability and their families who are consumers of transport services.

There are two issues, and one is that transport is a very important issue for everybody. We need to make sure that they are financially supported. Also, remember that it was the federal Liberal government that took this matter to the Federal Court. On money grounds, they were trying to deny people the sort of funding they require to access public transport; it went through the Federal Court. From a policy point of view, at the federal level it still remains unresolved.

There are people in the NDIS scheme who still do not receive the sort of funding they require to make sure they can fully participate in society and live full lives. It is interesting to note that that has been a feature of other speakers, which I agree with. They say that people living with disability should have the opportunity to fully participate in society in a whole range of ways.

To suggest that we have resolved that issue is wrong, but we need to. When you have a federal government that boasts a huge underspend from the NDIS and counts that underspend towards their surplus, one has to ask why we have people in the community who still do not have the sort of funding required to fully participate in society. Secondly, people who care for them also do not get the sort of support they require. There are families in my community who still do not get the sort of support they require.

I say we do it better, and I will give an example of how we do it better. However, sometimes we do not think about things enough. At a particular train station in my area there is a spot where you can get on the train and there is a spot where you can park your wheelchair to wait for the train, which is good. I think that is excellent, but the spot has no cover; it is at the other end of the train station. A person in a wheelchair has to wait in that nominated spot, which makes sense—I accept that—but the cover or the station canopy is at the other end of the platform, so this person has to wait in the rain or in the heat. If you think about this sort of thing, you would put a spot for a person to park their wheelchair under cover, but it does not exist.

I have raised this with DPTI in the past, and it still has not been fixed. There are things that we do better, but we still do not think about the implications. We tend to do things to a whole set of rules and regulations rather than the practical application of what is required. Another matter I would also like to mention—

Mr Cregan interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: If the member would like to make a contribution, he has an opportunity to do so. Clearly, he has nothing meaningful to say, otherwise he would stand up himself.

Another matter I would like to raise is the issue of education. This is not necessarily a reflection on this current government because it is an area about which I think we need to do a lot more right across the country. We need to make sure that families have a whole range of education opportunities in the communities in which they live. In my community, we still do not have enough places to cater for people to undertake their schooling; they still have to move out of our community to do that.

Sadly, the number of young children requiring a special class or a disability service is increasing. The fact that a number of children and their families still have to travel outside the area to get that education and services puts an additional burden on them. Also, it does not enable those families to socialise in the community like other families, which is very important because it provides community support.

There are a number of areas where I think we are doing better, but there are a number of areas where I think we could still do better. I welcome the government's inclusion plan. I think that is a welcome addition to public policy. The only caveat I would place on that plan is that, like a lot of plans, it is only as meaningful as the funding available for its implementation.

Unlike the NDIS, I would hope that this plan is actually fully funded and implemented in the way it is written because, despite very good intentions—and I think there are very noble intentions in the NDIS—the lack of funding to date has caused a lot of families quite a few problems. With those comments, I certainly support the motion, and I congratulate the member for Hurtle Vale on bringing this very important area of public policy to our attention.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (12:25): I rise to make a fairly short contribution. I thank the member for Hurtle Vale for bringing this forward, and I appreciate the improvements by the amendments of the Deputy Premier, and all those who have made a contribution. I would like to comment particularly about an outstanding event in Port Augusta that runs through the winter, and that is inclusive basketball.

I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my life, and I hope it continues, with regard to health and ability to participate in all sorts of physical activities. I have never taken it for granted. While I have been fortunate not to see things through a different lens, I have never taken it for granted. I have put a fair bit of effort in a private capacity into supporting people who are not as fortunate as me in that way, but who are more fortunate than me in other ways; they might be smarter or have a lot of other things going for them that I do not have.

Most recently, over the last few years in Port Augusta inclusive basketball has taken that town's sport supporters and broader community members by storm. An absolutely outstanding program has been running there now for four years, I think. It was probably started by Emily Holden, a wonderful young woman and local leader involved in many other things, but of course aided by many people—family members, local community members, the basketball community—and lots of people come along to watch. Initially, I went along a few years ago to provide some support, offer some encouragement and to learn a bit. I go nowadays for selfish reasons, to be quite honest, as it is one of the most fun, most enjoyable and happiest things that I get to do in any week during the winter when it is on.

The joy with which the players go about their competition and participate—and there is a juniors section and a seniors section—is incredibly infectious. It is fun for family and friends and it is fun for other members of the community like me, who turn up just to be there and cheer and get pleasure from doing that. It is something that the players look forward to like you would never imagine. When I see junior players, younger kids on the street, or adults who participate, it is almost always the first topic of conversation: 'Looking forward to inclusive basketball on Tuesday night this week.' It is absolutely outstanding.

I want to very genuinely commend the organisers of this sport in Port Augusta and acknowledge the great community support. Perhaps most importantly, as I share this as one of my experiences, I highlight to the house how much good comes out of really active public team participation in many ways. Of course, there are lots of other things that people with a disability can do that are incredibly productive, but I highlight this activity because of the sheer pleasure it gives people.

Every single person in the basketball stadium—whether they are a player, a parent, a brother or a sister, whether they are a basketball follower or just a community member such as me—gets something out of this. The grand finals, which are held at the end of the season, are massive events. The number of people who come out to support the players and the families is really impressive; it is really tremendous, as is the function afterwards.

The last thing I would like to say is that people are aware of Port Augusta, people are aware of some of the challenges we have, some of the great strengths we have and some of the natural advantages we have. Port Augusta has impressed me for two decades now—in fact, a bit over two decades now—with regard to the willingness of people on the street to accept those members of the community who have a disability.

I will give you one real-world example that I have seen time and time again in Port Augusta. I am sure that it is true for many other places as well, but I have not seen it displayed quite as well as in Port Augusta—that is your typical group of mid-teenage boys acting pretty tough, looking like maybe they are up to some mischief, maybe wondering how much fun they could have in a way that might not be exactly the way their parents would expect or hope that they would behave. They are doing absolutely nothing different from what most of us did. There is probably no man who did not act that way at some stage when he was a teenager.

When these sorts of hardened young men come along and a person with a disability comes in the other direction, I see that they have complete respect for that person. If it was another 15, 16, 17-year-old boy coming the other way, who knows what might have happened, but when a person with a disability comes the other way in Port Augusta they make space and say, 'G'day, mate'. They usually know that boy or girl's, or man or woman's first name. They say 'Hello, how are you going? Everything good? Yep? No worries. See you later.'

It is the happiest, most respectful passing on the footpath that you could hope for from a group of people who at that stage in their life do not necessarily treat everybody that way. I think that speaks incredibly well of my community in Port Augusta, and I congratulate Port Augusta on that.

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (12:32): Can I just take this quick opportunity to tell you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that we were thinking of you and your community during the bushfires over in Port Lincoln.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.

Ms COOK: You were missed. Thank you very much to all the people who contributed. I will start by confirming that we will support the amendment offered up by the Attorney-General. I also commit to our support of the work happening in the space around real inclusion. As pointed out by a number of people, there is a way to go. This real inclusion and delivery of the inclusion plan will require more than just goodwill: it will require investment and real community engagement as well. I look forward to seeing that investment and that engagement and watching the results of that.

Thank you very much to the Attorney-General for her contribution and for sharing her cousin Philip's story. The lived experience is always really valuable, and I can see that the Attorney is very caring and considerate of the experience of her cousin. We appreciate that. Thank you to the member for Frome also for his contribution and for mentioning Kellie Martlew, who is a personal friend of mine. I am a big fan and very jealous of her capacity for bowling, because I am terrible. She is not just a personal friend; she is a Facebook friend and I follow her and enjoy her contributions. I congratulate her on her employment, as well, at Coles. She is a champ.

The Hon. G.G. Brock: Woolworths.

Ms COOK: Woolworths, sorry. It is the anniversary, isn't it? I am being brainwashed by the Coles thing that is going on at the moment. Also, thank you to the members for Stuart, King and Mount Gambier for connecting the community and their participation in sport. I enjoyed hearing about the Tigers basketball club. I am a netball player myself and have recently taken up walking netball, which can be played by people of all levels and all ages. That is potentially something that you could think about, member for Stuart—some walking basketball in the city of Port Augusta. Walking netball is extremely good, and it is a lot of fun when you have very long arms because you are not allowed to jump.

Thank you to the member for Colton. I always appreciate his contributions based on lived experience. All of us here, while we might not be fans of his politics, are fans of his achievements and performances over many years.

I say a personal thankyou as well to the member for Light. When I came into this place, he gave me many opportunities and much support to provide him with representation at a number of events and briefings from his department, as I have had a special interest in supporting inclusion and the work of people in the disability space for many years of my own professional and personal life. I thank the member for Light for sharing and being so supportive. That said, I look forward to the inclusion plan being rolled out. I thank members for their contributions and commend the motion.

Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.

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