Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Please, order on my left. There were observations earlier in the week about people asking their first questions. Senator Bragg.

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services. Would the minister advise the Senate as to what the Morrison government is doing to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for his first question despite the interjections, and also acknowledge the presence in the gallery of his parents, who must be tremendously proud. Thank you very much for this extremely important question. One of the things that a strong economy does for Australia and for all Australians is it provides job opportunities, and none could be more important than providing job opportunities for people with disability, because this government, the Morrison government, believes in encouraging people. We believe in encouraging aspiration, providing opportunity and rewarding effort. We want people who live with disability to have a choice and some control around their life so they can achieve their goals.

One of the things that the Morrison government has announced is an investment of $3 billion into the Disability Employment Services Program. Through this program, we particularly want to target workplace initiatives such as workplace modifications and adjustments, so people with disability can find it easier to work in their workplace, and support wage system assessments, wage subsidy schemes and a national disability recruitment coordinator.

Just last year, the Morrison government changed the disability employment service program to help more people with disability find a job. I'm pleased to say that 234,000 people use the Disability Employment Services program. And through this program, we are seeing improvements in the results for people with disability achieving the outcomes that they want for themselves. We have seen participation rates increase by 21 per cent, 41,000 people are accessing the support that they need and 15,000 people have not only been assisted in finding work but also in remaining in that work. On this side of the chamber, we believe it is our responsibility to do everything we can to get all Australians back into work and that includes helping Australians who are working with disability and living with disability to get a job as well.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bragg, a supplementary question.

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a misconception that when you have a disability you may be less employable. What is the government doing to remove barriers to employment for people with a disability?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bragg, for your follow-up question. We want to make sure all Australians who live with a disability have the ability to contribute to the Australian economy to their best ability. It's not just good for them; it's good for their families, it's good for their community and it is good for the Australian economy for everybody and anybody to have a job.

Last year, the Morrison government kicked off the Employ their Ability campaign, which was designed around creating awareness of the ability and the contribution that people with disability can make in the workplace. We're pleased to announce that we have already encouraged 105 large companies and organisations to recognise the benefits of employing people with disability. We went to the last election with a suite of measures that, whilst they are ambitions, we think are absolutely achievable. We've asked the Public Service to make sure that seven per cent of the people who work in the Public Service have a disability. We've announced also $45 million to develop a national disability gateway, amongst myriad other initiatives.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bragg, a final supplementary question.

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What other opportunities are there to celebrate the achievements of people with a disability?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I mentioned earlier, we really want to make sure that people with disability get the opportunity to contribute to the economy and to society to their fullest ability, but we think everybody can play a role. It's not just the role of government. I acknowledge Dylan Alcott, the recently re-crowned Wimbledon champion, on the launching of his foundation and the dedication of its objectives towards gaining employment for unemployed people with disability. I congratulate and commend Dylan on this fantastic initiative.

We need to raise awareness so that we can celebrate the opportunities and contribution of people with disability. One of the things that I announced this week was the appointment of Kurt Fearnley as patron of the International Day of People with Disabilities. This year it will be held on 3 December. It's an annual event. This year we're particularly encouraging schools to become involved. To schools out there: please, post on your Facebook page about how inclusion, support and recognition of people with disability is a good thing in your community.