In preparation for the 2026–27 State Budget, we wrote to a number of ministers seeking consideration of projects, services and infrastructure identified by our electorate that remain unfunded or only partially funded.

This included correspondence to the Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services, who in response provided updates on the implementation of the Disability Royal Commission recommendations and disability infrastructure.

Disability Royal Commission

Included in our correspondence was a request that the Queensland Government implement all relevant State and Territory recommendations arising from the Federal Government’s Disability Royal Commission, a matter we have continued to raise since the Royal Commission tabled its final report in 2023.

The minister’s office provided the following response in italics:

The Queensland Government is taking a phased approach to implementing disability reforms in response to recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission, with implementation well underway across a range of Queensland Government portfolios. The Disability Royal Commission Progress Report 2025, released by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing on 27 November 2025, provides an update on the implementation progress of all State and Territory Disability Royal Commission recommendations. The Queensland Government is working alongside the Queenslanders with Disability Network to engage the disability community in the implementation of reforms under the Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy and will continue to drive implementation across portfolios and promote transparent and accurate reporting.

The Disability Royal Commission Progress Report 2025 is available via:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/disability-royal-commission-progress-report-2025-0

We note the Government’s advice that reforms are being progressed across portfolios and that engagement is occurring through the Queenslanders with Disability Network. We have responded requesting additional funding to see these recommendations implemented faster and will continue to monitor progress.

Disability Infrastructure

We also requested consideration of a grants program to enable each local government in Queensland to employ an Aged and Disability Infrastructure Officer to facilitate local accessibility and all-abilities infrastructure planning.

The minister’s office provided the following response in italics:

Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27: Together a better Queensland, is designed to drive action by the State and local governments, and the community more broadly, to ensure that people with disability have the same human rights as other community members, including access and inclusion to public spaces. The Local Government Association of Queensland continues to play a crucial role in advocating for accessible infrastructure in local government areas.

 As local governments plan and provide infrastructure for their communities, any program for funding an Aged and Disability Infrastructure Officer to support local infrastructure initiatives is the responsibility of the respective local government area as part of their planning process. I encourage you to remain connected with the Noosa Shire Council to raise this opportunity from your electorate directly

 Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022–27 is available via: https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/strategy

While we acknowledge the role of local government in planning and delivering infrastructure, our request was intended to explore whether state-level support could assist councils in strengthening accessibility outcomes across Queensland.

We will continue discussions with Noosa Shire Council regarding opportunities to improve local accessibility and inclusive infrastructure and will raise state-level funding mechanisms where appropriate.

Further information

For anyone wishing to read the Executive Summary of the Royal Commission’s report, please visit here.

For those wishing to also advocate with the relevant Queensland ministers directly regarding, please email the following and copy in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au as well forward us any response you receive.

For our previous Noosa 360 updates regarding the Disability Royal Commission, please visit https://www.sandybolton.com/?s=disability+royal+commission