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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-02-27 Daily Xml
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Royal Commission into Abuse of People with Disability

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question about a royal commission of inquiry into the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled people in residential and institutional settings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: On 20 February I was pleased to co-sign—along with my Greens colleagues from the Senate, Senator Jordan Steele-John, the ACT, WA, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria—a letter to all premiers and chief ministers, noting the passage of motions in the federal parliament calling for a federal royal commission of inquiry into the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled people in residential and institutional settings.

That letter was done because, at the time, Prime Minister Morrison had not enacted the necessary steps and had stated that states and territories needed to come to the table. I certainly agree with that statement that states and territories do have a role to play. Since that time and just today we see that New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have confirmed that they are behind this royal commission. Could the minister update what commitment the Marshall government will make, both financially and in terms of other resources, to this royal commission?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for her question, and commend Senator Jordan Steele-John for raising this important issue in the national parliament. South Australia is committed to safeguarding people with disability, upholding their human rights and promoting their dignity and full inclusion. I understand that on 18 February a motion passed the Australian parliament to establish a royal commission to inquire into violence and abuse of people with disability. It is anticipated that the royal commission will examine the abuse and mistreatment of people with disability in a wide range of settings.

The matter of the current status of the royal commission: my understanding is that the Prime Minister wrote to our Premier, the Hon. Steven Marshall, last week. South Australia was the first jurisdiction to respond in writing to state our in-principle support, and we are fully cooperating with other states and territories as well as the federal government as this goes forward. As I think the honourable member may have outlined in her question, the terms of reference haven't been determined at this stage so it is probably premature to outline what funding and so forth may be required. Once that matter is resolved, then we will be able to provide that information.

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