Acknowledgements 1
Endorsements 3
Background 5
methodology 7
Executive Summary 11
Recommendations 22
Article 4 — GENERAL OBLIGATIONS 38
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 38
No Legislation to Enact the CRPD 38
Disability Discrimination Legislation 38
National Disability Strategy 38
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) 38
Engagement with People with Disability through their Representative Organisations 38
National and State Disability Advocacy Programs 39
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 4 39
Article 5 — Equality and non-DISCRIMINATION 41
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 41
Limitations of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) 42
A Failure to Address Intersectional Discrimination 42
Ineffective Complaints Process 43
Lack of Protection for Systemic Discrimination 44
Lack of Protection against Vilification and Hate Crimes (see also Articles 15 and 16) 45
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 5 45
Article 6 — wOMEN WITH dISABILITIES 46
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 46
Situation and Data about Girls and Women with Disability in Australia 46
Non-Therapeutic Sterilisation against Girls and Women with Disability (see Article 23) 47
Violence (see Article 16) 47
Discrimination and Inadequate Access to Healthcare (see Articles 23 and 25) 47
Discrimination in Employment and Remuneration (see Articles 27 and 28) 47
Overrepresentation and Treatment in the Prison System (see Articles 13 and 15) 47
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 6 48
Article 7 — Children with Disabilities 49
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 49
National Human Rights Protection 49
Freedom to Express Views Freely 50
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People with Disability 50
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 7 51
Article 8 — Awareness-raising 53
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 53
The Media 54
RECOMMENDATION Article 8 56
Article 9 — Accessibility 57
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 57
Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 57
Barriers to Public transport 58
The Disability (Access to Premises — Building) Standards 2010 59
Accessibility and Australian Regulations and Policy 59
Digital Communication and Information (see also Article 21) 60
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 9 60
Article 10 — right to life 61
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 61
No Legislated Right to Life 61
Lower Life Expectancy 61
Deaths in Residential Disability and Aged Care Facilities 62
Denial of Life Saving Measures 63
Discriminatory Sentencing in Murder Cases 64
High Rates of Suicide 64
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 10 65
Article 11 — Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies 66
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 66
Inaccessible Early Warning Systems (EWS) 67
Inaccessible Emergency Facilities 67
Lack of Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Planning and Consultation 67
Lack of Inclusive Planning in Reconstruction Efforts 68
Lack of Coordination 68
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 11 69
Article 12 — Equal recognition before the law 70
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 70
Australia’s Interpretative Declaration on Article 12 70
Discriminatory Laws, Policies and Practice 71
Guardianship, Estate Management and Mental Health Laws 72
Inadequacy of Administrative Arrangements 73
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 12 73
Article 13 — Access to justice 75
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 75
Legal Representation 76
Cost Barriers (See also Article 5) 77
Systemic Barriers 78
Reasonable Accommodation 79
Over-Representation in the Prison System 80
Over-Representation in the Juvenile Justice System 81
Trial by Jury 82
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 13 83
Article 14 — Liberty and security of the person 84
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 84
Guardianship Laws 84
Mental Health Laws and Tribunals 84
Arbitrary Detention in Prisons 86
Arbitrary Arrest and Detention (see also Article 13) 87
Rights in the Prison System 88
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 14 90
Article 15 — Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment 91
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 91
Restrictive Practices 92
Disability Service System 94
Mental Health Service System 96
Restrictive Practices in Schools (see also Article 24) 97
In Prisons (see also Articles 13 and 14) 97
Juvenile Justice (see also Article 13) 99
Immigration Detention Centres 100
Medical or Scientific Experimentation Without Free and Informed Consent 101
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 15 101
Article 16 — Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse 103
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 103
General Legal and Policy Framework 103
Incidence Data, Identification and Reporting 105
Institutions and Residential Care Facilities 108
Mental Health Services 110
In the Education System 111
Social Protection Measures and Support Programs 111
Domestic Violence Services 112
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 16 113
Article 17 — Protecting the integrity of the person 115
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 115
Australia’s Interpretative Declaration on Article 17 115
Involuntary Mental Health Treatment 117
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 17 120
Article 18 — LIBERTY OF MOVEMENT AND NATIONALITY 122
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 122
Australia’s Interpretative Declaration on Article 18 122
Failure to Consider the Potential Contribution of People with Disability 123
Mandatory HIV Testing 124
Lack of Freedom for People with Disability to Move within Australia 126
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 18 126
Article 19 — Living independently and being included in the community 128
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 128
General Legal and Policy Framework 128
Supported Accommodation, Residential Institutions and Other Specific Purpose Arrangements 129
Younger People Placed in Nursing Homes 131
Unavailable and Inadequate Housing and Supports (see also Articles 18, 20, 26 and 28) 132
Lack of Adequate, Accessible Social and Public Housing 134
Private Rental Housing and Home Ownership 136
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 19 137
Article 20 — Personal mobility 139
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 139
Program Funding and Access 139
Development of Assistive Devices, Aids and Equipment 141
People with Disability Living in Remote and Rural Areas 142
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 20 142
Article 21— Freedom of expression and opinion and access to information 144
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 144
Policy Framework 144
Government Information 145
Government Consultation Processes 147
No Official Recognition of Sign Languages 147
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 21 147
Article 22 — Respect for privacy 149
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 149
General Legislative Framework 149
Privacy Concerns arising from the Interaction of Government Agencies and e-health 150
A Lack of Respect for Privacy in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes 150
Disclosure of “Disability” in Employment 151
Lack of Privacy Acts as Deterrent to the Making of Complaints 151
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 22 151
Article 23 — Respect for Home and the Family 152
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 152
Legal and Policy Framework 152
Non-Therapeutic Sterilisation 153
Removal of Children from Parents with Disability 154
Reproductive Freedom, Family Planning and Right to Parent 156
Coerced Abortions 157
Unequal Access to Adoption 157
Right to Sex and Relationships 158
Right of Children with Disability to Live in a Family 159
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 23 160
Article 24 — Education 162
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 162
General Legal and Policy Framework 162
Incidence of Educational Disadvantage 163
‘Special’ or Segregated Schools 163
Inclusive Mainstream Primary and Secondary Schools 165
Restrictive Practices, Bullying and Inappropriate Discipline 167
Inadequate Funding and Support Arrangements 168
Tertiary Education 169
Lack of Trained Teachers and Education Professionals 170
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 24 171
Article 25 — Health 173
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 173
Affordability of Health Care 173
Access Barriers 174
Population–Based Public Health Programs Fail to Include People with Disability 174
Women 175
Lack of Disability Specific Health Services 176
Lack of Services for People with a Psychosocial Disability 176
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: Failure to Prevent Secondary Disabilities 177
Quality of Care, Communication and Training 177
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 25 178
article 26 — HABILITATION AND REHABILITATION 179
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 179
Access to Therapy or Allied Health Services 179
Underfunding of Disability Services 180
Health Services and Rehabilitation Programs 180
Rural Areas 181
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians 181
People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds 182
People with Psychosocial Disability 182
Data Limitations 183
Aids and Equipment 183
Staff Training 183
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 26 184
Article 27 — Work and employment 185
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 185
Mainstream or Open Employment Support 187
Segregated Employment 189
Women with Disability 190
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 27 191
Article 28 — Adequate standard of living and social protection 192
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 192
Impairment Ratings Exclude Certain Disability Types 193
Waiting Period for Immigrants 194
Ensuring an Adequate Standard of Living 195
Lack of Measures Taken to Recognise the Connection between Poverty and Disability 196
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 28 197
aRTICLE 29 — PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL AND PUBLIC LIFE 198
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 198
Exclusion from the Electoral Roll 198
Lack of Access to Secret Ballots 199
Inability to Access Postal Voting 201
Inaccessible Voting Locations and Information 201
Disenfranchisement of People with Disability 203
Absence of People with Disability in Representative Government Capacity 203
Insufficient Government Support to Representative Disability Organisations 204
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 29 204
Article 30 — Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport 206
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 206
Inaccessible Cultural Events, Performances and Materials 206
Lack of Opportunities to Develop Creative Endeavours 208
Inaccessible Tourism Services and Facilities 208
Low Participation Rates in Sport and Recreation 209
Friendship and Social Connections 210
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 30 210
Article 31 — statistics and data collection 211
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 211
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 31 212
Article 32 — International cooperation 213
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 213
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 32 214
Article 33 — National implementation and monitoring 215
STATUS IN AUSTRALIA 215
RECOMMENDATIONS Article 33 216
AbBreviations 218