South Australian Government responds to several proposed adverse findings
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability will hold an additional day of Public hearing 14 on Thursday 30th September 2021 commencing at 10.00am.
During the hearing, Counsel Assisting, Kate Eastman AM SC, will outline findings that could be considered by the Royal Commission in relation to two case studies examined in June 2021. Both cases detailed the recent experiences of people with disability using supported accommodation services provided by the South Australian Department of Human Services.
In the second part of Public hearing 14, the Royal Commission examined two major reports which investigated the appalling circumstances surrounding the death of Adelaide woman, Ann Marie Smith. Its review considered how the South Australian and Commonwealth governments, including the National Disability Insurance Agency and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission responded to these past reports and their recommendations.
Senior Counsel Assisting has identified a number of key issues and themes from the evidence presented during Public hearing 14. However, it does not seek specific findings or propose recommendations about the functions, powers and policies of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) or the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The Royal Commission will continue to examine the NDIS Commission and NDIA in further public hearings and other areas of its work.
At the hearing on 30th September, it is anticipated that South Australian Government’s legal representative will accept some of the proposed adverse findings but not all and will argue that certain proposed adverse findings should be revised.
This additional day of Public hearing 14 will be closed to the public because of COVID-19, but will be live-streamed on the Royal Commission website and include live captioning and Auslan English interpreters.
No witnesses will be present at this hearing and no further evidence will be presented.
For more information, please visit the Royal Commission website.