29th Mar 2017, 4:14 PM – Senate Motions - Institutional Care - For a royal commission

The majority voted against a motion that called for a royal commission into abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential settings.

The motion was introduced by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert (WA).

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 27 March 2017, the ABC's Four Corners program clearly showed that abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential care continues,

(ii) previous evidence of severe abuse, violence and neglect was revealed by the media and during an inquiry of the Community Affairs References Committee,

(iii) on 25 November 2015, the Community Affairs References Committee tabled a report in the Senate with 30 recommendations addressing widespread instances of abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability in residential and institutional settings, and

(iv) the Government responded to the recommendations in this report on 2 March 2017, where they refused to commit to a royal commission into the issue; and

(b) calls on the Government to reconsider its decision and commit to a royal commission into abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential settings.