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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 09 Hansard (Thursday, 19 August 2004) . . Page.. 3929 ..

Disability ACT

Papers and statement by minister

MR WOOD (Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Arts and Heritage, and Acting Minister for Health): For the information of members, I present the following papers:

Disability ACT—

Future directions: A framework for the ACT 2004-2008, dated August 2004.

Challenge 2014—A ten year vision for disability in the ACT, dated August 2004.

I seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR WOOD: Today, I am pleased to table the documents entitled Future directions: A framework for the ACT 2004-2008 and Challenge 2014—A ten year vision for disability in the ACT. The government recognises the right of every individual to participate in and contribute to all aspects of life in the ACT. In particular, the government is committed to supporting and encouraging people with disabilities to participate in the community and reach their potential.

On 26 September 2002, I tabled the government’s response to the recommendations of the board of inquiry into disability services. Since April 2003, I have tabled in the Assembly six-monthly reports from Disability ACT outlining the progress made against the government’s response to the board of inquiry’s recommendations. In implementing many of the recommendations, there is now a greater emphasis on involving people with disabilities, their families and carers in the development and delivery of policy, programs and services.

In 2001, the Disability Reform Group was established to provide advice to the government in developing its responses. Amongst the key work undertaken by the Disability Reform Group was the development of a vision and values statement in consultation with the community and government sectors. The statement, which articulates a set of overarching values, was noted by the government in September and released in October 2002.

In developing the vision and values statement, participants highlighted the need to develop a framework that put their aspirations into meaning and gave them practical relevance. The result is the aspirational document entitled Challenge 2014—A ten year vision for disability in the ACT. In effect, the statement is a challenge to everyone in the community, including government and community sectors, to take responsibility for change and meet the expectations identified by people with disabilities.

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