WUNRN
TV
Inquiry on Abuse of Women with Disabilities in Institutional Settings –
Four Corners: In Our Care: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/11/24/4132812.htm
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Women
with Disabilities Australia - WWDA
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSES NEED FOR
NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN
INSTITUTIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS
On Tuesday, November
25, 2014, Australia Senator Mitch Fifield -
Assistant Minister for Social Services - dismissed the need for a national inquiry into violence and abuse of of
people with disabilities in residential and institutional settings, arguing
that it was a 'matter for the State and Territory Governments.'
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) does
not accept the Government's position, and will continue to lobby for a national
inquiry, consistent with recommendations from the United Nations for more than
a decade now, which have urged the Australian Government to: ‘address and
investigate, without delay, violence, exploitation and abuse experienced by
women and girls with disabilities in institutional and residential
settings’.
Below is a copy of the relevant transcript from the
Senate on Tuesday:
People with Disability: Abuse in Institutional
Care
Senator SIEWERT (Western
Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (14:28): My question is to the Minister
representing the Minister for Social Services, the Assistant Minister for
Social Services, Senator Fifield. There is outrage throughout the community and
the disability sector after the revelations from the joint Four Corners and
Fairfax investigation into cases of abuse of people with disability in
institutional care shown last night. These are not isolated incidents. We know
that people with disability are at significant risk of violence and abuse, but
we do not know how widespread this is. It is essential that we urgently find
out the prevalence and nature of these horrific abuses so that we can protect
the human rights of people with disability. Will the government launch an
inquiry into the neglect, violence—including gender based violence—and abuse of
people with disability in residential and institutional settings?
Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of
Government Business in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Social Services)
(14:29): I thank Senator Siewert for her question. Senator Siewert was
referring to the ABC Four Corners and Fairfax reports into cases of serious
sexual abuse concerning Yooralla, which, for my colleagues who are from outside
of Victoria, is a large disability service in the state. All colleagues would
be concerned to hear of allegations of abuse or mistreatment of people with
disability, who, as we know, are often in very vulnerable situations. It is
particularly concerning when the alleged abuse—and some has been proved—has
been perpetrated by people who are in the privileged position of providing
support to people with significant disabilities. It is important to be serious
and sober when looking to respond to these matters.
I will share with the Senate that until the full
rollout of the NDIS is complete the states and territories remain responsible
for disability services in their jurisdictions and this includes complaints,
regulations, quality assurance and law enforcement. Allegations of this nature
should be referred to the relevant disability and police authorities. I do note
that both the Victorian government and Victorian opposition have agreed that there
will be a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into sexual abuse in the disability
sector in Victoria. I think all colleagues have seen the good work done by a
Victorian parliamentary committee into institutional responses to child sexual
abuse.
Senator SIEWERT (Western
Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (14:31): Mr President, I ask a supplementary
question. Hasn't the United Nations made recommendations urging Australia to
investigate and address, as an urgent priority, violence against people with
disability, in particular women with disability living in institutional
situations? How can the minister hand this issue off to the states when the
United Nations has urged Australia to take action?
Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of
Government Business in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Social Services)
(14:31): It is important that those jurisdictions that have the regulatory and
law enforcement responsibilities in these areas do give full attention to those
allegations that occur in their jurisdiction. It is also extremely important
that, as we look to the national rollout of the NDIS, we ensure that the NDIS
has the most appropriate safeguards possible for people with disability. It is
important that we learn from the experiences in the state jurisdictions. It is
also important that we learn from the experiences in the NDIS launch sites. The
government will be paying very careful attention to the work and the results of
the Victorian parliamentary inquiry.
Senator SIEWERT (Western
Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (14:32): Mr President, I ask a further
supplementary question. In the past Australia has turned its back on cases
where we know abuse occurred and where problems occurred—and I am thinking of
forced adoptions, forgotten Australians and the allegations of child abuse that
are now subject to a royal commission. Are we not washing our hands of this
issue nationally? In 20 years time will there be a need for a royal commission
because these issues around abuse and violence were ignored nationally?
Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of
Government Business in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Social Services)
(14:33): I do not think that there is anyone in public life in any parliament
in Australia who would have the view that anything other than a full assessment
of the serious allegations should be made. The Victorian parliament has set
about responding to the allegations from Four Corners and the Fairfax
investigation. The Commonwealth is committed to learning the lessons of the
NDIS trial sites and also committed to learning of the experiences of the state
jurisdictions as the Commonwealth looks to what would be the most appropriate
safeguards to put in place nationally for a full NDIS.
MEDIA RELEASE
URGENT CALL FOR
NATIONAL INQUIRY: END VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY IN
INSTITUTIONS
Tuesday 25 November 2014
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) and
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) are outraged at the events that were portrayed in last night’s ABC 4
Corners program, In Our Care. This program exposes the deliberate cover-up of
shocking and pervasive violence and exploitation perpetrated against people
with disability along with corruption and mismanagement by Yooralla, a large
disability service provider in Victoria.
PWDA and WWDA stand with the survivors of these
horrific events, and with the families, advocates, support workers and former
staff who have spoken out about these criminal activities. We call for an
immediate National Inquiry into violence, including gender-based violence,
against people with disability living in institutions and residential settings
as a matter of urgency.
“The events exposed in the 4 Corners program last
night are not a random occurrence confined to Yooralla or the State of
Victoria. Violence against people with disability in institutional and
residential settings, including the significantly higher levels of violence
experienced by women with disability is Australia’s hidden shame”, said Ms
Carolyn Frohmader, WWDA Executive Director.
Ms Therese Sands, PWDA Co-Chief Executive Officer
noted, “We welcome the commitment by the Victorian Government and Opposition to
conduct an enquiry into the events at Yooralla. However, time and again, we
have seen State and Territory inquiries focus on violence in specific
institutions and residential settings, but the systemic and prevalent nature of
this violence across Australia is not addressed. We argue that it is time for a
National Inquiry to address the endemic nature of violence, exploitation and
abuse in institutions and residential settings”.
“A National Inquiry would respond to a number of
United Nations recommendations that urge Australia to investigate and address,
as an urgent priority violence against people with disability, in particular
women with disability living in institutions and residential settings”, said Ms
Sands.
Ms Frohmader also stressed, “Australia has not
implemented measures to address violence against people with disability through
its National Disability Strategy, nor has the issue of gender-based violence
experienced by women with disability in institutions been included in the
National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children. On this
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we say it’s
time that women with disability living in institutions were included in
Australia’s response to eliminate violence against all women”.
PWDA and WWDA urge all who are concerned about this
issue to sign the petition to urgently establish a national inquiry into
violence, neglect and abuse against people with disability in residential and
institutional settings.
Sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/tony-abbott-to-urgently-launch-a-national-inquiry-into-violence-neglect-and-abuse-against-people-with-disability-in-residential-and-institutional-settings
Factsheet: Violence against people with
disabilities in Institutions and Residential Settings:
http://www.pwd.org.au/documents/orgdocs/FS-Violence-PWD2014.doc
Four Corners: In Our Care: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/11/24/4132812.htm
Carolyn Frohmader
Executive
Director
Women With
Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
Email: carolyn@wwda.org.au
Web: www.wwda.org.au
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WWDA.Australia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WWDA_AU