Mr. Michael Hennessy:

I thank the Chairman. With regard to the question on people with a disability not accessing services they should be accessing, we would advocate that the UNCRPD and the rights enshrined within it need to be seen as a whole-of-government response. There has been a tendency in the past to look at a person with a disability at all times through the prism of that disability. We need to accept that while a person may have a disability, that is just one aspect of his or her life. That person is a citizen, a member of a community, a son, a brother, a neighbour, a friend. We need to take the view that persons with disabilities should not access everything through disability services. We need to see access through all parts of the public services be that health, mental health, transport, housing, elder care and so on. All of those must be brought into line with the UNCRPD and all must be disability-proofed so that a person with a disability can access them directly without having to go through disability services or, indeed, a public representative. It should be easier by looking at it that way.