People With Disabilities ACT (PWD ACT) has congratulated the re-elected Barr ACT Labor Government and the appointment of Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA as Minister for Disability. PWD ACT had strong engagement with Minister Stephen-Smith during the campaign and look forward to working with her to create an inclusive and accessible Canberra. We are also pleased that Parliamentary Agreement between ACT Labor and the ACT Greens directly picks up on some of our key asks, including a coordination point for lived experience on accessibility issues, meaning that these will now be implemented by the government.Labor and the Greens have agreed to create a new policy unit to monitor and support the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, oversee grants to improve the ability of people with disabilities to participate in mainstream community groups, better support parents of children with disabilities; and a resourced Disability Reference Group to include people with disabilities and to address access issues for transport and new developments;
The Parliamentary Agreement also commits the Government to encourage Universal Housing initiatives by: holding a roundtable to develop incentives that will encourage construction of new homes and apartments that meet the Liveable Housing Design Silver and Gold Levels; developing training programs for architects and builders; showcasing Universal Housing in demonstration housing projects; and playing an active role at COAG to push for genuine progress on the 2010 COAG agreement (in the National Disability Strategy), for new housing to meet Universal Design Standards.
The incoming government has also commited to a Disability Justice Stratagy to be developed with Minister Rattenbury, who retains the Justice portfolio.
The Agreement is below: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-30/labor,-greens-parliamentary-agreement-2016/7978410]
You can find our media release here: Congratulations ACT Labor – Let’s work together on disability
