WUNRN
Via Women with Disabilities Australia – WWDA - http://wwda.org.au/
See TV News Video of the Abuse of Women with Disabilities in
Institutional & Residential Settings in Australia, and the Absolutely
Importance of This Senate Motion & Forthcoming Inquiry for WOMEN WITH
DISABILITIES IN AUSTRALIA. http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/11/24/4132812.htm
AUSTRALIA SENATE PASSES MOTION FOR NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO
VIOLENCE & ABUSE
AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIY IN INSTITUTIONAL &
RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS
This afternoon, the Senate
unanimously passed the motion (moved by Senator Siewert) for a National Inquiry
into Violence and Abuse Against People with Disability in Institutional and
Residential Settings. This is an extraordinary day for people with disabilities
everywhere, but especially women and girls with disabilities, who experience,
and are at risk of, multiple forms of violence, particularly in institutional
and residential settings.
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
commends the Senate for listening to the voices of people with disabilities;
for recognising the urgency of the issue, and for its commitment to ending the
epidemic that is violence against people with disabilities in institutional and
residential settings.
WWDA has worked on this issue for
more than 20 years. Today, newly elected WWDA President Rayna Lamb said
"Today the Senate has recognised the need for a national inquiry into
violence perpetrated against people with disabilities in institutional and
residential settings. It has acknowledged that this issue is not just a 'state'
issue, and is not restricted to just a handful of disability service providers.
The Senate has listened to, and respected the voices of people with
disabilities from around Australia. It has shown great leadership in
committing, through a Senate Inquiry, to working with people with disabilities
to end the epidemic that is violence against people with disabilities in
institutional and residential settings. The Senate is to be commended for
recognising that violence against people with disabilities cannot, and will
not, be tolerated any longer."
WWDA Executive Director Carolyn
Frohmader, who has led this work for more than 19 years, today said: "WWDA
is deeply indebted to Senator Rachel Siewert for her leadership and support on
this national issue. WWDA, and our allies, are looking forward to working with
Governments, through this national Inquiry, to find practical, coordinated
solutions to end this epidemic once and for all. Today, WWDA pays tribute to
those WWDA members who are no longer with us but who have been such an important
part of our journey to end violence against women and girls with disabilities.
We also take this opportunity to pay special tribute to our member and friend,
Juliette Anderson, for her advocacy on behalf of all people with disabilities
who have experienced violations of one of their most fundamental human rights -
the right to live their lives free from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect
and exploitation."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: WUNRN LISTSERVE
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Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2014 6:41 AM
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Subject: Australia - Government Dismisses Need for National Inquiry into
Violence Against Persons with Disabilities in Institutions, Especially Against
Women
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