opinion breaking the barriers
Creating a more inclusive society is one of the objectives of the Senate inquiry into accessibility for people with disability , writes the Federal Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers , Senator Carol Brown .
It is vital that we build more inclusive and accessible communities for people with disability . That is why I am pleased that the Senate has agreed to my request to hold an inquiry into accessibility for people with disability .
The Senate inquiry is taking submissions and is due to report later this year . It will examine progress on the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 to build inclusive and accessible communities .
Labor led the development and implementation of the National Disability Strategy to provide a 10-year blueprint to improve the inclusion and participation of people with disability in Australia . We need to look at access for people with a disability to public buildings , housing , parks and transport .
People with a disability must not have their access limited because they can ’ t catch a bus , use public amenities or are unable to access a school , bank , shopping centre or sports facility . The inquiry will examine the impact that restricted access for people with a disability has on their ability to be included and participate in economic , cultural , social , civil and political life .
It will look at the planning , design , management and regulation of the built and natural environment including commercial premises , housing , public spaces and amenities , as well as transport services and infrastructure . How best to address potential barriers to getting access to information , the media or the Internet will also be considered by the inquiry .
We must create communities that are more inclusive . We must provide schools and education facilities that are safe and inclusive for people with disability . Too many people with disability are still excluded from workforce participation . They are not given the opportunity to contribute and engage in work .
Australia has one of the lowest rates of employment for people with disability in the developed world . The OECD ranks Australia 21st out of 29 OECD countries for employment participation of people with disability . By removing barriers and discrimination for people with disability to access work , we also will be able to lift many people out of poverty .
Two in five people of working age with disability reported last year that their main source of cash income was a government pension or allowance . Around 45 per cent of people with disability in Australia live near or below the poverty line . This is unacceptable .
I am heartened by the number of people who tell me how their lives have dramatically improved since they have had an NDIS package . But we still have much more to do to ensure Australians with disability are not excluded and have the same opportunities as other Australians .
Improving the design and access of public buildings and places is critical to transforming the experiences and lives of people with disability and creating more inclusive communities . That is why the Senate inquiry is so important . Together we must break down the barriers .
The closing date for submissions into the Senate inquiry has been extended until April 28 .
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