Following previous advocacy from Sandy and others, the Queensland Minister for Disabilities has provided the below information:

Queenslanders with disability and other key stakeholders have had their say on potential disability reforms at a roundtable held in Brisbane.

The Disability Reform Roundtable discussed the Queensland Government’s proposed whole-of-government framework to consider the findings of the Disability Royal Commission and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review.

The final reports from the Royal Commission and NDIS Review recommended wide-ranging and large-scale changes to improve outcomes for Queenslanders with disability.

The proposed framework discussed at the roundtable aims to provide a coordinated and structured approach to considering disability reform across the state, with a focus on the outcomes that can be achieved to make a difference in the lives of people with disability.

A key focus for participants was on ensuring reforms are progressed in partnership with Queenslanders with disability, their families and support systems, and the organisations and associations that represent, advocate and work to support them.

The roundtable also explored what foundational supports were needed for people with disability outside the NDIS.

Participants included disability sector stakeholders, peak bodies, organisations supporting people with disability, and advocacy groups.

Disability Reform Ministers have issued a joint statement on the Commonwealth, state and territory responses to the Disability Royal Commission.

This response acknowledged the scale and complexity of reform, and the importance of consulting widely.

To accommodate this, it was agreed all governments would respond by mid 2024, beyond the deadline of 31 March 2024, the date recommended by the Disability Royal Commission for all governments to publish responses.

Queensland will respond to the Disability Royal Commission recommendations for which it has sole responsibility by mid 2024.

As mentioned in our January 2024 Noosa 360 update, Sandy has written to the Queensland Minister for Education regarding the recommendations relevant to their portfolio including Recommendation 7.1, 7.3, 7.4,7.13, 7.14 and 7.15. This letter has also been provided to the Minister for Disabilities who Sandy met with this week, with reassurance provided that specific concerns from our residents would be considered, and we will track the progress and update via Noosa 360.

Further information

For anyone wishing to read the Executive Summary of the Royal Commission’s report, please visit here. If any Noosa Electorate Residents have any further thoughts on the report in relation to State Government, please email us via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

For those wishing to also advocate with the relevant Queensland Ministers directly regarding this, please consider emailing the following:

Please copy in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.

For our previous Noosa 360 updates regarding the Royal Commission, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=ROYAL+COMMISSION+INTO+VIOLENCE%2C+ABUSE%2C+NEGLECT+AND+EXPLOITATION+OF+PEOPLE+WITH+A+DISABILITY