From our CEO, Ross Joyce
Welcome to the latest edition of AFDO eNews. 
I am pleased to announce that we are releasing our Political Platform today for the upcoming Federal Election to be held on Saturday 18th May 2019.
We are calling for a commitment from all parties and candidates to six key objectives which make up our Political Platform.
Listed below is a brief outline of the six commitments we are calling for, and there is a link to further information on each commitment.
- Commitment to a Royal Commission to address violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of people with disability across all settings and encompassing all matters raised by AFDO and its members that are not currently in or are lacking sufficient weight in the Royal Commissions Terms of Reference as well as conflict of interest issues with two of the appointed Commissioners. Read more on Commitment 1
- Commitment to funding the National Disability Strategy and progressive achievement of measurable outcomes at a federal level as well as ensuring this applies to all levels of government.Read more on Commitment 2
- Commitment to set aside, as a clearly defined reserve fund, the full and ongoing funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and to provide any necessary legislation to this effect. This to be at the level required for full Scheme each year, including any funds remaining in the reserve fund from any budget underspend in any given year. This is to provide certainty for all approved participants and for the long term security of the Scheme. Read more on Commitment 3
- Commitment to people with disability who are not part of the NDIS for continued access to services and relevant supports provided at a Federal and State/Territory level through COAG and other agreements or arrangements. Read more on Commitment 4
- Commitment to equitable and sufficient funding of all national Disability Representative Organisations to fulfil their role for people with disability and their families; to add value in working with all governments on policy, initiatives and disability issues. Read more on Commitment 5
- Commitment to equitable and sufficient funding of disability advocacy agencies and its national Peak body to fulfil their role for people with disability and their families; to add value in resolving individual issues and to provide input and data on systemic or other issues for resolution. Read more on Commitment 6
We will also be writing to all party leaders and candidates outlining our Political Platform and asking them to commit to the six key objectives which will improve the lives of people with disability and improve inclusion within Australian communities.
You can visit our Election 2019 webpage via this link:
https://afdo.org.au/election/
Please keep reading on as there are two opportunities below for people with disability to have a say on disability rights in Australia.
I hope you enjoy this edition of AFDO eNews.
Help shape the National Disability Strategy beyond 2020
The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 is about creating a more inclusive society that enables Australians with disability to fulfill their potential as equal citizens.
It is also the main way Australia implements the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Australia, making sure people with disability can participate in all areas of Australian life.
At the end of 2020 the Strategy will end and governments across Australia are working together to develop a new strategy for beyond 2020.
The Australian community is invited to take part in national consultations to shape the future of disability policy for 2020 and beyond.
You can have your say through:
- an open public survey (available from mid-April)
- face-to-face community workshops in every state and territory (beginning 29 April)
- and online forum (beginning from mid-May).
Public consultation forums will be held in each state and territory between April – June 2019. You can register your interest to attend the publc consultation forums via the link below.
Register your interest to attend the public consultation forums
For more information on the National Disability Strategy, please follow the links below:
Read the Fact Sheet
Read the FAQ
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The Australian Government is being reviewed by the United Nations (UN) on how well they are implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
AFDO is part of a working group made up of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs), disability representatives and advocacy organisations that are writing a report for the UN Committee, showing them the perspectives of people with disability in Australia.
We invite you to fill out a survey to let the UN committee know what is important.
This survey is an opportunity for you, as a person with disability, to give feedback about your rights. The survey asks questions about different areas of your life.
The answers you give will help us write the report to the United Nations (UN) Committee about how well the Australian Government is implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
The survey will close on May 31, 2019.
The survey is hosted on the DPOA website, and can be accessed via the link below.
Link to the Consultation Survey for People With Disability
Background
Australia signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008.
Australia has to report to the United Nations every four years, and be reviewed on what it has achieved. This report is known as a Civil Society Shadow Report.
Australia will be reviewed for the second time by the Committee in September 2019. The Australian Government Report has been provided to the Committee. This report is Australia’s response to a List of Issues that the Committee want to know about.
AFDO is part of the 2019 Civil Society CRPD Shadow Report Working Group preparing Australia’s Civil Society Shadow Report to the Committee.
The 2019 Civil Society CRPD Shadow Report Working Group includes:
- Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI)
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
- Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL)
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)
- Council for Intellectual Disability NSW (CID)
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)
- First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN)
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
- People with Disability Australia (PWDA)
- Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI)
- Queensland Voice for Mental Health (QVMH)
- Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)