Page 3423 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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working to ensure that Canberrans have the best options and opportunities to be fully active members of our community.
I am honoured to stand here as minister and serve the fantastic and diverse community that is Canberra. I acknowledge the significant contribution made by my predecessors, Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith and Minister Chris Steel. There are projects that I will mention today for which they can claim great credit. As a proud member of this government and as Minister for Disability, I am committed to ensuring the inclusion of all, which is at the heart of ensuring good outcomes for people with disability.
The ACT government has shown its commitment to people with disability by providing significant investments of over $700 million in delivering the full scheme implementation of the NDIS and investing in the promise of an ordinary life for people with disability. We are proud of our continuing productive relationship with the NDIA at both the local and national levels.
I look forward to continuing to work with my predecessor in providing a strong voice for the ACT at the national level on this important reform and I will continue to represent the views of this government, and indeed this Assembly, in opposing any changes to the legislation that preclude such rights, including advocating for ensuring that the right to an ordinary life includes the right to sex and the associated benefits that this brings.
In August we released the disability justice strategy to address the disadvantage experienced by people with disability in having equal access to and treatment before the law. The disability justice strategy is part of the ACT government’s vision for an inclusive society that gives everyone the chance to participate in community life and leaves no-one behind. This government has invested $4.8 million in the implementation of this strategy and its first action plan. The action plan will deliver a series of practical commitments and real actions by government agencies and the civil and criminal justice systems.
The working with vulnerable people scheme is an important part of the suite of protections the ACT has in place for vulnerable people. In 2019 we have been working to ensure that our scheme can deliver on the commitment for nationally harmonised disability worker screening as part of the NDIS from next year.
While we work towards consistency with other jurisdictions, we are making the process simpler for people seeking registration and to ensure that we have the best measures in place to continue to protect children and vulnerable people from harm. In 2019-20 the office of the senior practitioner will be working to implement the full range of functions under the Senior Practitioner Act, including facilitating the reporting of the use of restrictive practices in emergency situations and establishing a platform for data collection and reporting.
Yesterday was the first meeting of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. I look forward to leading the ACT government’s contribution. The commission will provide a much-needed platform for some of the most vulnerable members of our community and facilitate
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