Disability rights
Media and commentary related to our work to make society more accessible, supportive and fair for people with disability.
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2SER: Fighting the NDIS age cap at the UN
PIAC is representing Dr Peter Freckleton in a discrimination complaint to the UN. After contracting polio when he was six-years-old, Peter has had paralysis in both legs since childhood. However, his application for NDIS support was rejected as he was over 65 when the NDIS was introduced. This leaves him unable to access necessary support for…
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UN asked to rule on whether NDIS age cap is a human rights breach
Dr Peter Freckleton, an Australian with a severe and permanent disability, is alleging the Australian Government is discriminating against him by denying him access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because of his age. In a complaint to the UN, Dr Freckleton says this breaches his fundamental right to protection from discrimination under the…
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Age discrimination complaints on NDIS age cap taken to the United Nations
When the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rolled out 10 years ago, Peter Freckleton had hopes it would change his life for the better. Mr Freckleton has had a life-long disability, which began after contracting polio when he was just six. “I was paralysed totally. I finished up with two both legs paralysed and for the rest…
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2SER: the Disability Royal Commission calls for fundamental reform
After four years of often harrowing evidence from people with disability, 32 public hearings and nearly 8,000 submissions, the Disability Royal Commission has released its final report. Its findings are damning. According to the Royal Commission, people with disability ‘experience high rates of violence and abuse,’ and ‘continue to be excluded from participating in many areas…
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Improving access to specialist disability accommodation
Our report with Housing Hub showed we had improved NDIA decision making processes.
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Australia urged to strengthen response on audio description
Disability advocates are urging the Australian Government to commit to changing the law to require audio description be provided on Australian television, in line with a UN Committee recommendation. The Government commits to providing ongoing support to increase audio-described content on the ABC and SBS, and intends to work with commercial free-to-air broadcasters and subscription…
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Recent changes to federal discrimination powers and complaint processes
In December 2022, changes were made to how the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) can handle complaints and tackle discrimination, and to how discrimination claims can be run in the federal courts. The changes to the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (AHRC Act) implement recommendations of the Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry…
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Australian Government urged to strengthen response on audio description
Disability advocates are urging the Australian Government to commit to changing the law to require audio description be provided on Australian television, in line with a UN Committee recommendation. Audio description gives verbal narration of important visual elements such as scenes, settings, actions, costumes and on-screen text. Following a complaint from disability rights advocate Lauren…
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2SER: An appropriate cost model for Commonwealth discrimination cases
The Federal Government is looking at changing unfair laws that discourage people from taking a discrimination or sexual harassment complaint to court. Their review is in response to the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and its Respect@Work report, which revealed that people aren’t taking those complaints to court because of the financial risk of having…
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2SER: Investing in the NDIS
The NDIS supports more than half a million Australians living with disability. It provides funding for services and supports so people with disability and their families can have greater independence, access jobs and education, and have a better quality of life. The Opposition Leader recently suggested that Australia’s AUKUS submarine program could be funded by…