SENATOR CAROL BROWN

SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND CARERS

SENATOR FOR TASMANIA

DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION REPORT SHOWS

ROYAL COMMISSION NEEDED

Labor welcomes the new report today from Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Alastair McEwin.

The report reminds us that the level of violence and abuse against people with
disabilities remains unacceptably high:

“18% of people with disability report being victims of physical or threatened

violence compared to 10% of people without disability”.

The actual rate of people with disability experiencing violence is likely to be even
higher than the rate which is reported.

This is a shocking situation and more needs to be done to prevent abuse and
violence in the future.
Today’s report also highlights the importance of governments working together to
ensure the newly established NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is
effectively implemented.

Labor will consider the details of today’s report carefully.

Labor continues to call for a Royal Commission into violence and abuse against
people with disability.

Only a Royal Commission can bring justice to victims and the friends and families
of victims.

Only a Royal Commission can take the action needed to see justice brought to
bear.

The Government should act now and establish a Royal Commission.

MONDAY, 16 JULY 2018

MEDIA CONTACT: MICHAEL CHAITOW (BROWN) 0434 269 264

Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra.