Laura Harmon (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank all our guests for their really valuable and informative contributions. It is a really important and timely discussion we are having in the committee this morning. It is an historic opportunity to move away from an archaic culture of control to one of respect, autonomy and choice. I will direct my questions primarily to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. The submission rightly points out that the law alone will not effect this change. It needs to be broader than that, with political will and cultural change. The guiding principles need to be binding standards and not just aspirational. That is a crucial point.

I note the service's key recommendations and want to zone in on some of them. It is clearly highlighted that there needs to be more resourcing for independent advocacy. The NAS has noted its own waiting lists, with 232 on a waiting list as of August this year. Clearly there is pressure there. I might ask our guests to expand on that and describe what needs to happen and what investment is needed. The service has called for a Government strategy on independent advocacy and highlighted the need for commitment to ongoing training for professionals; increasing public awareness campaigns for those working in the sector and the broader public; involving people with disabilities in implementation and oversight; and the importance of an interim review of the Act to guard against any issues. I would like Ms Condon and Ms Byrne to expand as well on how we can have a rights-based approach to the transitions from wardships, and on some of the risks they currently see and how we can ensure we are compliant with the UNCRPD.