Category: General News

QDN’s 2019 Federal Election Policy Platform

11th April 2019 No Comments Sharyn McManus General News

QDN’s 2019 Federal Election Policy Platform

QDN has released our 2019 Federal Election Policy Platform.  QDN’s election platform is based on feedback from QDN members, including our Local Support Groups and engagement with people with disability and their families whilst delivering key projects.

Our election policy platform identifies seven key areas of priority commitment we are seeking from candidates in the Federal Election, which has been called for 18 May.  We are asking the future Australian Government to lead with vision, to listen and act together with Queenslanders with disability and the community.

To access QDN’s Federal Election Platform in Word click here.
To access QDN’s Federal Election Platform in Pdf click here

 

 

 

Member update – Commissioners for Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability Form Federal Court judge Ronald Sackville AO Q

5th April 2019 No Comments Sharyn McManus General News

Member update – Commissioners for Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

Former Federal Court judge Ronald Sackville AO QC has been appointed the Chair of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. He will be assisted

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E-Blast: Royal Commission Terms of Reference Reminder

19th March 2019 No Comments Sharyn McManus General News

E-Blast: Royal Commission Draft Terms of Reference Reminder

Reminding all QDN members and supporters that the deadline to have your say on the Draft Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with disability is Thursday 28 March. At the moment the only way to have a say is via an online survey. Read more about the Terms of Reference and go to the online survey here:  https://engage.dss.gov.au/royal-commission-into-violence-abuse-neglect-and-exploitation-of-people-with-disability/.

It is very important that as many people with disability as possible have a say on the Draft Terms of Reference. People with disability need to have a voice on this important Royal Commission. QDN will also be responding to this consultation. If you would like any further information, please call Karin at QDN on 1300 363 783.

 

E-Blast: The Public Advocate 2018 Report and Summary

19th December 2018 No Comments Sharyn McManus General News

E-Blast: The Public Advocate 2018 Report and Summary

This year the work of the Public Advocate has primarily focused on:

  1. the aged care sector, with a particular focus on the use of unregulated restrictive practices and elder abuse;
  2. monitoring aspects of the operation of the mental health system and the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the treatment of involuntary patients;
  3. working with government to settle a plan for implementation of the recommendations of the Public Advocate’s report Upholding the right to life and health;
  4. monitoring of the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Queensland; and
  5. the operation of the forensic disability service and its treatment of residents of the service.

Mary Burgess, Public Advocate for Queensland said in the report “I would like to make some general observations about the treatment of people with disability by some government agencies and systems in Queensland. While we have some very positive and effective legislation guided by human rights principles, which require decision-makers to proactively consider and protect the human rights of people with disability, there are significant examples across systems of this not being achieved in practice.”

A legislative framework will only be effective in protecting people’s rights if those working under it are committed to that outcome and respect the law and people’s rights and there are mechanisms for oversight and accountability.

These observations apply equally to the operation of the forensic disability system and the involuntary mental health system and the way people detained under those systems are treated, despite both systems having rights-focused legislative frameworks.

These system failings underline the continuing need for human rights defender agencies like my office, the Public Guardian, the Queensland Ombudsman and the Anti-Discrimination Commission to be adequately funded to fulfil our functions.

A summary QDN has prepared of The Public Advocate 2018 Report can be accessed online at this link https://qdn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-Public-Advocate-2018-report-and-summary.docx

 The full report can be accessed online at the link below:  https://www.justice.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/589291/Public-Advocate-Annual-Report-2017-18.pdf