Tabled in Parliament: report of the Senate inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability

The report of the Senate inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential settings.was tabled in the Senate yesterday (25th November 2015).

The committee found that violence, abuse and neglect was so widespread it has called for a Royal Commission and made 29 other recommendations on things that need to change.

  

... The committee finds that violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability is both widespread and takes many forms. This inquiry has not shied away from the fact that the causes, the impacts and the solutions to this issue are complex and there is no easy fix. As one submitter wrote, these issues make people feel uncomfortable and most would prefer to take the easy option and pretend that nothing is wrong. But the reality is far different - the situation for people with disability is unacceptable. Throughout this inquiry, the evidence presented from people with disability, their families and advocates, showed that a root cause of violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability begins with the de-valuing of people with disability. This devaluing permeates the attitudes of individual disability workers, service delivery organisations and most disturbingly, government systems designed to protect the rights of individuals ... Executive Summary of the report.

• Read the full report here
• Statement from the Committee Chair, Senator Rachel Seiwert
• Senate committee calls for royal commission into disability abuse, Judith Ireland, Sydney Morning Herald, 25th November 2015
• Australian Cross Disability Alliance response to the report, 26th November 2015
• Inquiry calls for royal commission into widespread institutional abuse of people with disability, Norman Hermant, ABC News, 26th November 2015