Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Announcement:
Social Inclusion Board and Unit

Date of announcement:
23 November 2007

Detail:
“Labor has already announced its intention to establish a Social Inclusion Board, the main advisory body which will be required to consult widely and provide views and advice on various aspects of social inclusion, including who should be targeted, how this can be achieved, how communities will be engaged and ongoing review of what is and what is not working. This consultation process will involve the community and not for profit sector, advisory groups and all levels of government.

The Board will provide input to a Social Inclusion Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department and will bring together community leaders from across the country, all with significant networks, experience and knowledge. They will be champions of their own communities and networks, with the ability to work together and to work with all spheres of government, providing leadership and advice.

Labor’s whole of government approach will also be characterised by partnerships with State and local governments, the not for profit and private sectors to deliver targeted and tailored interventions which address localised systemic disadvantage. Social Inclusion Plans would include clear targets, clear benchmarks, their ongoing measurement, data collection and defined roles and responsibilities for all parties involved. Labor has also stressed the importance of matched funding pools to ensure that all partners, whether they are in the government or the not for profit and private sectors, make their contribution to achieving targeted outcomes.”

Announcement:
UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability

Date of announcement:
8 November 2007

Detail:
“Labor supported the signing of the International Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons… A Rudd Labor Government will continue this strong support, and will investigate how best to implement the Convention at a federal level.”

Announcement:
Creation of a National Disability Strategy

Date of announcement:
8 November 2007

Detail:
“A Rudd Labor Government will implement this recommendation by negotiating a National Disability Strategy with the States and Territories to tackle the complex needs of people with disabilities and their carers. The National Disability Strategy will be overseen by the relevant Ministerial Council and have a clear place for the involvement of consumers, carers and providers of disability support services.

Disability policy must be about more than individual services. All portfolios have a role to play and some of the most important issues can only be addressed across government.

A National Disability Strategy would be a document that canvasses the full range of issues that impact on disability policy including:
• How to fund, finance and deliver disability services in the future.
• Prevention and early intervention.
• Increasing social and workforce participation.
• The specific needs of various disability groups, particularly those that are increasing in number.
• Improving the research agenda.
• New models of care.

Over the last 11 years, the Howard Government have stepped away from a national leadership role in disability policy. The National Disability Strategy will replace the Howard Government’s failed Commonwealth Disability Strategy. It will move from a singular focus on information provision and Australian Public Service employees to the actual outcomes that Departments and programs ought to be delivering for people with disabilities.”

Announcement:
Inclusion in the Arts

Date of announcement:
8 November 2007

Detail:
“develop a Disability and Arts Strategy in conjunction with the Australia Council focused on the participation of people with disabilities in the arts.”