Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023: A joint submission from Disability Representative Organisations
Earlier this year, the Australian government said they wanted to replace the Disability Services Act (1986) (the Act).
This is because disability supports and services have changed a lot since 1986. Since then, we have had the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
We made a joint statement about our vision for what could replace the Act. You can read that statement here: https://www.inclusionaustralia.org.au/submission/a-new-act-to-replace-the-disability-services-act-1986-joint-submission-from-disability-representative-organisations/
To replace the Disability Serivces Act (1986), the government has drafted the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023 (the Bill) to be introduced to Parliament.
The Bill will make a way for the government continue funding existing supports and services. It will also making a way to design new supports and services in the future to better support people with disability, their families and supporters.
This is an important opportunity to shape the vision and direction for the rights of people with disability in Australia into the future.
It is also an opportunity to make sure people with disability are living their lives as equal citizens in an inclusive society.
The government asked the community for feedback and comments about the draft Bill.
We joined together with other Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) to make a joint submission responding to the government’s draft bill. The submission was coordinated by the Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA).
You can read the joint submission here: Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023 joint submission