Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. There is outrage throughout the community and the disability sector after the revelations from the joint Four Corners and Fairfax investigation into cases of abuse of people with disability in institutional care shown last night. These are not isolated incidents. We know that people with disability are at significant risk of violence and abuse, but we do not know how widespread this is. It is essential that we urgently find out the prevalence and nature of these horrific abuses so that we can protect the human rights of people with disability. Will the government launch an inquiry into the neglect, violence—including gender based violence—and abuse of people with disability in residential and institutional settings?