Ruth Webber (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator McLucas and Senator Bartlett, I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

3 December marks the International Day of People with Disability,

(ii)

the International Day of People with Disability was established in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life,

(iii)

one in 5 Australians (approximately 3.95 million people) has a reported disability and, of those who have a disability, only 53 per cent are in the workforce, compared with 81 per cent of people without a disability, while the unemployment rate among people with disability is 8.6 per cent, compared with 5 per cent for people without a disability, and

(iv)

there are more than 2.5 million Australians who take on a caring role and provide some assistance to people who require help because of their disability or age; and

(b)

calls on the Government to recognise that advocacy for people with disability is an essential service and that people with disability need access to advocates to speak on their behalf and direction both individually and systemically.

Question agreed to.