A4, with many other disability advocates, wrote to the Prime Minister explaining why Australia needs a dedicated Minister for Disability and a dedicated Department of Disability Equality & Inclusion that is staffed by and for people with disability. The letter says: 

We urge you to implement DRC Recommendation 5.6 so that Minister Shorten’s successor can also begin the pivotal work of establishing a dedicated and effective Department of Disability Equality & Inclusion which must, in turn, begin the important work of progressing and implementing DRC recommendations. Implementing the remaining DRC recommendations, including those in Volume 4 and Volume 7, would not only improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society but also ensure our compliance with the CRPD and other international laws by implementing the recommendations of the 2019 Concluding Observations of the United Nations CRPD Committee. 

This is a crucial opportunity to make meaningful and transformational changes to enable impactful social and economic participation. This not only provides for the important upholding of our nation’s values of fair and equal opportunity for all – but a reinforced commitment with our international obligations under the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘CRPD’). Without a dedicated Minister and Department for disabled people covering both the NDIS and the wider government ecosystem regarding disability supports outside the NDIS, further neglect, abuse and deaths of people with disability will be inevitable.

You can download the full text of the letter below.