Volume 12, Beyond the Royal Commission

Recommendation 12.1 Government responses to the Final report

The Australian Government and state and territory governments should each publish a written response to the Royal Commission’s Final report by 31 March 2024. Their responses should indicate whether the recommendations are accepted, rejected or subject to further consideration. They should include a plan for how the accepted recommendations will be implemented, the reasons for rejecting any recommendations, and a timeframe for any further consideration required.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments should table their responses in their respective parliaments and legislative assemblies.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.1

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We responded to this recommendation via a joint statement between the Commonwealth and states and territory governments on 5 March 2024.

A joint response has been published, along with this response. It fulfills the commitment made in the joint statement.

Joint response to recommendation 12.1

Accept in principle

The Australian Government and state and territory governments support the transparent publication of responses to Disability Royal Commission recommendations.

On 5 March 2024, the Australian Government and state and territory governments, except Tasmania due to being in caretaker, released a joint statement committing to responding to joint Disability Royal Commission recommendations by mid-2024. A joint response has been released, fulfilling this commitment.

Recommendation 12.2 Implementation of the final report recommendations

The Disability Reform Ministerial Council should oversee the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations across the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

The Australian Government and each state and territory government should report to the Disability Reform Ministerial Council every six months. Their reports should detail the implementation status of each recommendation and raise any issues and risks.

In its 2024 report to National Cabinet, the Disability Reform Ministerial Council should identify the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations as one of its priorities and include it in its workplan.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.2

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We note that the Disability Reform Ministerial Council does not have decision-making authority for all 222 recommendations. Some recommendations fall within the responsibility of other ministerial councils.

We support in principle that the Disability Reform Ministerial Council should have implementation of Disability Royal Commission recommendations as a priority on its workplan.

We have agreed to provide transparent updates on the progress of implementing the recommendations through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council.

Joint response to recommendation 12.2

Accept in principle

The Australian Government and state and territory governments support the Disability Reform Ministerial Council (DRMC) having responsibility for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of Disability Royal Commission recommendations.

Disability Ministers have identified the development of responses to the Disability Royal Commission as a priority focus and have agreed to include consideration of reform in response to the Disability Royal Commission as a standing agenda item for all DRMC meetings in 2024.

The issues raised in the Disability Royal Commission’s final report, and change required, traverse the responsibilities of several portfolios and Ministerial Councils, and require a significant and sustained national effort from all governments and all parts of our community.

DRMC will report annually to National Cabinet on the implementation of Disability Royal Commission recommendations, with input from other Ministerial Councils on progress made on recommendations within their responsibility.

Disability Ministers have also agreed to a reporting and monitoring framework to support ongoing and transparent updates on progress of implementation of recommendations.

Recommendation 12.3 Progress reporting on implementation of recommendations

Commencing in 2025, the National Disability Commission should table an annual report in the Australian Parliament reporting on the progress of the Australian Government and state and territory governments in implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

The report should compare progress across jurisdictions.

(For details of the National Disability Commission, see Volume 5, Governing for inclusion, Recommendation 5.5.)

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.3

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We support in principle the tabling of an annual report on implementation progress. We note this must consider the unique demographic and geographical context of states and territories.

Joint response to recommendation 12.3

Accept in principle

The Australian Government and state and territory governments will consider appropriate independent reporting arrangements on implementation of Disability Royal Commission recommendations. Disability Ministers will consider possible arrangements and mechanisms for agreement and publication in 2024.

Recommendation 12.4 Evaluation of effectiveness in improving outcomes

The National Disability Commission should lead independent evaluations of the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations and their effectiveness in improving outcomes for people with disability. The evaluations should examine barriers to and drivers of effective implementation and suggest measures for improvement.

The evaluations should be conducted five and 10 years after the delivery of the Final report, with reports tabled in the Australian Parliament.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.4

We note this recommendation.

This recommendation is not within our area of responsibility.

Recommendation 12.5 A nationally consistent approach to data collection

The Australian Government and state and territory governments, through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, should address the lack of consistent disability data by developing a nationally consistent approach to collecting disability information.

By December 2024, the Australian Government and state and territory governments should agree to a core set of questions to identify disability status to be used across all mainstream services and population surveys. This should be led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. The questions should be co-designed with people with disability and their representative organisations, and with First Nations subject matter experts.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.5

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We support a nationally consistent approach to data collection. We support this recommendation in principle. We note its relevance for all mainstream service systems that require a comprehensive approach to consultation.

We also note the importance of the co-design element of this recommendation. This includes working with people with disability and their representative organisations. It also includes working with First Nations people.

Joint response to recommendation 12.5

Accept in principle

Australian Government and state and territory governments acknowledge the importance of data collection and publication and their role in safeguarding against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and informing an evidence-based approach to ongoing reform to support better outcomes for people with disability.

In January 2024, Disability Ministers agreed Commonwealth, state and territory officials focus and accelerate work to resolve data gaps in relation to the reporting requirements under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework by the end of 2024. All governments are also working together to develop an action plan, with agreed timeframes, to drive data collection (including gender disaggregated data) and reporting on data-related Disability Royal Commission recommendations. The action plan is expected to be published in 2024.

All governments have also committed to deliver the enduring National Disability Data Asset and contribute to ongoing costs through the National Disability Data Asset Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Disability Ministers in mid-2023. Ongoing work to deliver the National Disability Data Asset will also support implementation of these recommendations over time.

Recommendation 12.6 Disability flags in data collection for mainstream services

The Australian Government and state and territory governments, through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, should address the lack of available disability data by implementing disability flags in data collections for key mainstream services.

By June 2025, the Australian Government and state and territory governments should publish an implementation plan outlining how the core set of questions will be integrated into data collections of priority mainstream services. This should be led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.6

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We note this recommendation depends on recommendation 12.5.

Joint response to recommendation 12.6

Accept in principle

Australian Government and state and territory governments acknowledge the importance of data collection and publication and their role in safeguarding against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and informing an evidence-based approach to ongoing reform to support better outcomes for people with disability.

In January 2024, Disability Ministers agreed Commonwealth, state and territory officials focus and accelerate work to resolve data gaps in relation to the reporting requirements under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework by the end of 2024. All governments are also working together to develop an action plan, with agreed timeframes, to drive data collection (including gender disaggregated data) and reporting on data-related Disability Royal Commission recommendations. The action plan is expected to be published in 2024.

All governments have also committed to deliver the enduring National Disability Data Asset and contribute to ongoing costs through the National Disability Data Asset Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Disability Ministers in mid-2023. Ongoing work to deliver the National Disability Data Asset will also support implementation of these recommendations over time.

Recommendation 12.7 Improving disability data collection

The Australian Government and state and territory governments should support a strategy, led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, to extend disability data collection:

1. to include people with disability in closed and segregated settings and those with communication support needs
2. to improve data on types of impairment
3. to improve data for intersectional analysis by enhancing data on women with disability; children and young people with disability; and First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTIQA+ people with disability.

This strategy should form part of the Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Data Improvement Plan.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.7

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We note it presents an opportunity to integrate recommendations on data collection into a single strategy under the Australia’s Disability Strategy Data Improvement Plan.

Joint response to recommendation 12.7

Accept in principle

Australian Government and state and territory governments acknowledge the importance of data collection and publication and its role in safeguarding against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and informing an evidence-based approach to ongoing reform to support better outcomes for people with disability.

In January 2024, Disability Ministers agreed Commonwealth, state and territory officials focus and accelerate work to resolve data gaps in relation to the reporting requirements under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework by the end of 2024. All governments are also working together to develop an action plan, with agreed timeframes, to drive data collection (including gender disaggregated data) and reporting on data-related Disability Royal Commission recommendations. The action plan is expected to be published in 2024.

All governments have also committed to deliver the enduring National Disability Data Asset and contribute to ongoing costs through the National Disability Data Asset Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Disability Ministers in mid-2023. Ongoing work to deliver the National Disability Data Asset will also support implementation of these recommendations over time.

Recommendation 12.8 Long-term support for the National Disability Data Asset

The Australian Government and state and territory governments, through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, should commit to long-term support to the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA).

All governments should:

1. by June 2024, commit to continuing funding to establish the NDDA as a national resource for longitudinal analysis of linked data across service systems
2. commit to publishing an annual statistical summary of the analyses of the NDDA’s linked data. This should focus on data insights not available from other sources and provide transparency on projects underway. All reported data should be disaggregated as far as possible to enable intersectional analysis
3. by December 2024, commence specific data projects using the NDDA that:
   • identify the factors that put people with disability at greatest risk of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation
   • demonstrate the outcomes and experiences of people with disability transitioning between systems, including:
     • education and employment, child protection and justice systems, and housing and health
     • the National Disability Insurance Scheme and mainstream services
   • evaluate the accuracy of disability status collection in various service settings.

Victorian Government response to recommendation 12.8

We accept this recommendation in principle.

We were among the first partners to sign up to the pilot of the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA). We have been working with project partners since 2019. This includes delivering the pilot and design blueprint, and later establishing the enduring NDDA.

We have signed the Multilateral Data Sharing Agreement, the NDDA Memorandum of Understanding and its bilateral schedule. This demonstrates our commitment to the establishment and long-term use of the NDDA.

These agreements also specify the first national priorities for the NDDA’s work plan, once established. We support further discussions through the NDDA governance forums and Disability Reform Ministerial Council on the NDDA’s future funding, timelines and research program.

Joint response to recommendation 12.8

Accept in principle

The Australian Government and state and territory governments have committed to deliver the enduring National Disability Data Asset and contribute to ongoing costs through the National Disability Data Asset Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Disability Ministers in mid-2023.

The National Disability Data Asset will be in operation in 2024–25. All governments are working together to determine costs and funding arrangements beyond 2025.