Emma Husar (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm not sure how 'If he rolled out of bed and used his position of privilege and power to help a group of vulnerable Australians and not just roll out for a photo shoot of vulnerable people, like he did on Christmas Day' is off the topic, Mr Deputy Speaker. They're still vulnerable people. This wilful ignorance perpetuates the pain and suffering of already vulnerable people. You need no further proof that this Prime Minister ignores all the evidence than his rejection of the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into abuse in disability services, which recommended that the state lobby for a royal commission into this matter. You also need look no further than his ignoring of the Senate Community Affairs Committee recommendation that a royal commission be established following on from its inquiry into violence, abuse and neglect against people with a disability in institutional care. The government did not provide a response on this matter until 16 months after it had been tabled, and they rejected it, even though the minister admitted that there were reports of instances abuse. Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would really like the Prime Minister to roll out of his bed, come in here and use his position of power and privilege to stick up for these people.

We say it all the time: the Prime Minister and the government are out of touch and they're out of ideas. We are happy to work with them on this in the interests of protecting vulnerable people. This legislation deals with workers in the future, and it has taken almost two years to implement. It is so inadequate, yet this Prime Minister thinks it'll do. What about the people who have been wronged in the past? Why do they get ignored? Where is their justice? When you know better, you do better. This is one step towards doing better in the future. It won't be enough, it will never, ever be enough, but it is something.

I want to do one thing while I'm here on my feet today. I want to thank all those people who are working in disability services, supporting vulnerable people, and who are doing the right thing, because I'm sure there are more of them that do than don't. There are more people doing the right thing, and we need to ensure that, if they witness something, if they have concerns, if they hear something, they are protected in saying something. Bad things happen when good people do nothing. We must ensure that good people are protected in workplaces and that their representation by unions—who have always looked after workers' rights, including people who speak up and act as whistleblowers—is maintained. Instead of the government's dog whistling, let's listen to those from the trade union movement and those with the gumption to stand up and speak out against injustice wherever it occurs. Unlike those opposite, we don't throw those people under a bus. We need to encourage confidence in the people with a disability and the workers in that sector who protect them to speak out.

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