Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Disability Services, 31 July 2024
Tasmanian Response to the Disability Royal Commission
The Tasmanian Government has pledged its commitment to ensuring a more inclusive, safe and just society for Tasmanians with disability, as part of its response to the Disability Royal Commission.
Minister for Disability Services, Jo Palmer, said the Tasmanian Response addresses the 222 recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission after its extensive inquiry into what governments, institutions and communities can do to better respond to and protect people with disability from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
“All people with disability have the right to live their lives free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation,” Minister Palmer said.
“The voices of people with disability are at the heart of our response and I want to personally thank the Tasmanians with disability, and their families, carers, advocates and support networks, who bravely shared their stories with the Disability Royal Commission.
“I’m heartened that a number of recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission relate to work already underway within the Tasmanian Government.
“This includes the establishment of Tasmania’s first Disability Commissioner and the introduction of our Disability Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill.
“I also acknowledge some of the recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission suggest big changes and I want to assure everyone that we will not be making any significant changes without first talking to people with disability, their families and carers.
“Consultation and co-design with the Tasmanian community is our priority in responding to the recommendations.”
The Royal Commission was established in 2019 to examine widespread concerns about the treatment of people with disability in Australia.
The release of the Tasmanian Response comes after the Australian Government today released the Joint Australian, State and Territory Response to the Disability Royal Commission.
This response details the national positions governments have agreed for those recommendations requiring a collective response.
Of the 222 recommendations, the Tasmanian Government:
• accepts 15 recommendations,
• accepts in principle 88 recommendations,
• needs to give further consideration to 24 recommendations, and
• notes 95 recommendations.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is to help develop stronger communities for all Tasmanians.
The Tasmanian Response to the Disability Royal Commission is also available in a summary form, and easy read versions. These are available online at www.dpac.tas.gov.au/
Media release – Tasmania’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), 31 July 2024
TASMANIA LEADING THE WAY TO IMPLEMENT HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
Tasmania’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), Richard Connock, has welcomed the State Government’s response to OPCAT recommendations in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission).
“It is pleasing that the State Government is leading the way in relation to the implementation of Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT*),” Mr Connock said.
“Tasmania was the first state to pass dedicated OPCAT legislation, in 2021, and to fund my office to comprehensively scope its implementation. This includes funding for my office to undertake implementation planning related to health and social care settings, particularly in relation to residential aged care and disability support.
“These implementation recommendations will be released within the next few months, and – subject to government funding to facilitate the NPM office undertaking this important work – are intended to give effect to the Disability Royal Commission recommendations in these areas, in particular under Recommendations 11.6 – 11.11.”
Mr Connock said the input of Tasmanians with disability and those that work in the sector to the Royal Commission was vital in identifying opportunities to provide better outcomes.
“I know that participating in the Disability Royal Commission would have been a challenging experience for many people, and I sincerely thank them for their time and courage to speak up.”
He said initiatives were already underway to ensure the Tasmanian NPM was inclusive.
“The national OPCAT Symposium, which was held in Hobart earlier this year and open to all people including nominated NPMs, comprehensively discussed a disability inclusive approach to implementing OPCAT,” he said.
“I have recently established a Civil Society Advisory Council, a key recommendation in my 2023 Implementation Report: Preventing Torture and ill-treatment in Tasmania, which includes representation of people with disability; and I am currently developing essential working materials in codesign with representative and advocacy organisations of persons with disability, which will be a first for Australia.
“I also continue to engage proactively with the Commonwealth Ombudsman in relation to coordination of activities and capacity building, and I call on all Australian Governments to engage cooperatively to fully implement Australia’s NPM in compliance with its international obligations.”
