National disability sector advocate River Night says it’s past time for government to get cracking on the Royal Commission’s recommendations and reforms.
Mr Night is an adult living with disability, advocate, carer, father and outspoken supporter for reform and improvements in the disability and NDIS sector with a 30+ year career working across disability, youth justice, guardianship, child safety, education, TAFE, aged care, forensics disability and mental health sectors.
‘Today’s initial, formal response to the Disability Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation saw only 13 recommendations fully accepted 4 months late,’ said Mr Night yesterday.
‘Our government had evidence provided in the Commission’s final report September 2023, of chronic abuse, deaths, daily violence to a significant population, and in some cases majority, sexual assaults, and plain disgusting treatment of Australia’s most vulnerable from the testimony of 10 000 people across more than 4 years.
‘To hear that after 10 months all we get is less than 10 percent of the recommendations fully accepted and we see very little actual action on the ground or rapid response to provide immediate face to face safeguards is an insult.’
Meaningless promises to change
Mr Night went on to say, ‘Today’s announcements reminded me of when I taught grade one students and they misbehaved. We hear so many comments in speeches about “thoughts and prayers”, mentions of “commitment”, comments like “continue to listen to people”, or “codesign”, “working towards” but what we see is little action and behaviour towards real change.
‘It is like listening to kids say “I promise I’ll change, honest…”
‘How can our leaders have evidence of such huge amounts of human rights breaches, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation identified pre-royal commission, during the 4 years of the commission and after 10 months be at the stage of basically say “yeah we agree with a few things, haven’t done much about any of them, probably need to think more about some stuff and the states have to work on the rest, but in the mean time, chin up while you continue to experience violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
‘I have spoken to hundreds of service providers and thousands of people living with disability around Australia recently and I can tell you without a doubt the Australian community sees little action,’ said Mr Night. ‘
There is less contact now between NDIS and the NDIS Safeguards Commission and service providers and participants than ever before. There are little to no face to face real safeguards and a perfect storm for our nightmares to be seen.
‘All I can say to our leaders is please don’t think that the 4.4 million Australians living with disability, their family, friends and carers are stupid. You can say you are committed and value and care and are working on, working with, listening to and all the other focus group approved phrases for only so long before we better see action and fast!’
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