Additional Comments from Coalition Senators

1.1Coalition Senators wish to thank those who have attended and provided submissions on this inquiry.

1.2Although the Coalition has identified areas of concern, it does not oppose the legislation.

1.3A primary concern is that the Bills will not define the target groups that will be eligible for services and support. This is a departure from the law currently in place.

1.4People with Disability Australia suggests there would be value in defining disability by referring to the barriers that people with disability may experience to assist full and effective participation of people with disability in Australia.[1]

1.5Under Section 8 in the Disability Services Act 1986 (Cth), a target group consists of persons with a disability that:

is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, physical or sensory impairment or a combination of such;

is permanent or likely to be permanent; and

results in a substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, mobility or learning; and the need for ongoing support services.

1.6Although not having a legislated definition of a target group could assist with greater flexibility and access to supports and services, without the additional infrastructure being in place, there may be unknown practical consequential impacts on the provision and delivery of timely supports and services to those who need it most.

Senator Maria Kovacic

Member

Senator Kerrynne Liddle

Member

Footnotes

[1]Mx Giancarlo de Vera, Senior Manager, Policy, People with Disability Australia, Proof Committee Hansard, 9 October 2023, p. 11.