THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES & PAYMENTS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM
MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
TURNBULL GOVERNMENT MUST RE-APPOINT FULL-TIME DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION COMMISSIONER
The Turnbull Government must re-appoint a full-time Disability Discrimination Commissioner following Tim Wilson's decision to resign as Human Rights Commissioner to seek Liberal Party pre-selection in the seat of Goldstein.
In May 2014 the Abbott-Turnbull Government's decision to appoint Mr Wilson as a Human Rights Commissioner came at the expense of Australia's first full-time Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM.
Senator Brandis sacked Graeme Innes as Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner so he could give his Liberal Party mate a taxpayer-funded job at the Human Rights Commission.
Now that Mr Wilson has resigned from his role, the Turnbull Government should finally right this wrong and give people with disability the strong voice they once had at the Human Rights Commission.
It says everything about the priorities of the Turnbull Government that they have a Commissioner for wind farms, but not a full-time Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
As the National Disability Insurance Scheme is rolling out, it is more important than ever for people with disability to have a Commissioner devoted to advocating their interests and protecting their rights.
The Abbott-Turnbull Government cut funding for one full-time Commissioner from the Human Rights Commission in the 2014 Budget.
MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2016
