The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to working with people with disability, the people who support and advocate for them, and the wider community to deliver better outcomes for people with disability.
That is why we have been undertaking a review of the Disability Services Act 2011, which has included extensive consultation.
After careful consideration of the review and the feedback from the community, our Government has decided to draft new legislation, rather than amend the existing Act.
A lot has changed, including the implementation of the NDIS, in the past 10 years and it is essential that Tasmania has legislation that reflects contemporary community expectations.
New disability legislation will strengthen our Government’s commitment to building an equitable, inclusive and accessible State and to achieve better results for people with disability through high quality and safe services.
The legislative changes proposed will focus on five broad areas:
- Inclusion, accessibility, and leadership;
- Provisions to consult with people with disability;
- Strengthen quality and safeguarding protections;
- Provide a framework for service funding; and
- Provide clarity about regulatory arrangements.
I would like to again thank all those who provided valuable feedback during initial consultation.
Work will now begin on drafting the new legislation, with the aim of having a draft Bill for consultation in early 2023.
