Bill Shorten has promised to establish a royal commission into violence and abuse against people with disabilities if Labor wins the next election.
He says harrowing accounts of people with disabilities being abused and assaulted “cannot be ignored”, and a royal commission is necessary so their stories can be told to the highest level of judicial inquiry.
The move comes after the Turnbull government rejected calls for a royal commission in March, despite a key recommendation from a Senate inquiry to establish one.
In November 2015, the Senate community affairs references committee made 30 recommendations, including a royal commission to investigate the many allegations of abuse it heard.
It also recommended establishing a new national watchdog, declaring “violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability is both widespread and takes many forms” in Australia.
The Turnbull government says a royal commission isn’t necessary because it is establishing a new independent body, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission, that will ensure serious complaints are properly investigated.
It provided $209m in its budget for the commission to be established.
“The establishment of the commission from next year forms the basis of the government’s response to the Senate committee inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings,” a government spokesperson told the ABC.
“Rather than proceeding with another inquiry through a royal commission, the government is focused on establishing the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and implementing the [NDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework] framework, which will address many of the issues raised by the committee.”
Labor’s promise to establish a royal commission comes after an ABC Four Corners report in March detailed further horrific abuse of people with disabilities in group homes.
It also comes after more than 100 academics signed an open letter to Turnbull calling for a royal commission.
Jenny Macklin, the shadow minister for families social services, and Carol Brown, the shadow minister for disability and carers, have issued a statement with Shorten explaining Labor’s position.
“People with disability experience much higher rates of violence than the rest of the community, and in many cases, this violence occurs in places where they are meant to be receiving support,” they said.
“Children with disability are at least three times more likely to experience abuse than other children.
“We will not allow these sickening incidents to be swept under the carpet ... the time has come to bring these accounts of abuse out into the light.
“The community is calling for a royal commission, and Labor is listening.
“Labor understands that nothing can erase the pain and trauma of the abuse experienced by people with disability, but they deserve to have their voices heard at a royal commission,” they said.
