Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Almost two years ago, the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, called for a royal commission into violence and abuse against people with disabilities. The countless harrowing accounts of people with disability being abused and assaulted cannot be ignored. People with disability experience much higher rates of violence than the rest of the community and, in many cases, this violence occurs in places where they are meant to be receiving care and support. Children with disability are at least three times more likely to experience abuse than other kids. These facts cannot be ignored and a royal commission is needed so that people with disability, their families and carers can tell their stories to the highest level of judicial inquiry in our land and get the justice that they deserve. We know a majority in this House and the other place support this royal commission and we need the Prime Minister to stop wasting time and stalling and call a royal commission today.

In the time I have left I would like to acknowledge the great work being done by so many advocates for people with disability in the Northern Territory, not only the National Disability Service, but also Territory Care and Support Services, who have recently opened a new office in my electorate—