The Australian Parliament agreed on 19 February 2019 that there will be a Royal Commission into the violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of people with disability.

The pressure is now on for the Government to commit to action before the election. Disability advocates want the Government to declare when it will happen, to consult people with disability on the terms and scope of the inquiry, and promise to implement the recommendations if it is returned to government.

Photo: Last minute lobbying by advocates before the Australian Parliament voted on creating a Royal Commission into the mistreatment of people with disability. At Parliament House were Deafness Forum’s Steve Williamson, Opposition leader Bill Shorten, Labor’s Disability spokesperson Carol Brown, Mary Mallet from Disability Advocacy Network Australia, and Ross Joyce from Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.