Recommendation 5.4 – Review of national agreements, strategies and plans

What has been achieved to date

All governments continue their commitment to drive whole of government action to ensure national agreements, strategies and plans are consistent with the vision and purpose of Australia’s Disability Strategy (the Strategy). In recognition of the broad scope and complexity of relevant agreements, planning has commenced on a central coordination approach to drive and monitor implementation of this recommendation, in alignment with Australia’s Disability Strategy and responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Through a targeted review in 2024, the Australian Government and state and territory governments engaged with the disability community to consider how Australia’s Disability Strategy could be improved to more effectively drive work towards a more inclusive society across all portfolios. Australia’s Disability Strategy Review was released by the Minister for Social Services on 29 January 2025 (see recommendation 5.2).

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

The Australian Government and state and territory governments, should review national agreements, strategies and plans that affect people with disability. This work should be undertaken through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council in conjunction with other ministerial councils.

Reviews should consider:

• the alignment of national agreements, strategies and plans with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031
• how funding allocations should recognise the needs and rights of people with disability
• the inclusion of specific outcome measures related to people with disability
• the development of specific action plans relating to people with disability. 

National agreements that should be reviewed include the:

• National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• National Housing and Homelessness Agreement
• National School Reform Agreement
• National Health Reform Agreement
• National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement
• National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development.

Other national agreements, strategies and plans to be reviewed should include, but not be limited to, those relating to:

• emergency management, such as those for pandemics and natural disasters
• children and young people, such as the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031
• employment, education, training and skills, such as the National Workforce Strategy 2022–2027
• legal support, such as the National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020–2025
• health services, such as those for preventative health, community health, and mental health
• family and sexual violence, such as the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.

The reviews of current agreements, strategies and plans should be completed by the end of 2025.

Joint Government response July 2024

The Australian Government and state and territory governments are committed to ensuring national agreements, strategies and plans support an inclusive Australian society that ensures people with disability can fulfil their potential as equal members of the community, consistent with the vision and purpose of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

These considerations will be incorporated into future reviews of relevant agreements, strategies and plans as they become due for renegotiation. This will be considered through the respective governance mechanisms and structures for each agreement, in consultation with disability portfolios.

Given the scope and complexity of reviewing these agreements, flexibility for delivery timeframes will be required in undertaking this action.

Through a targeted review in 2024, governments will also consider how Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 can be improved to more effectively drive work towards a more inclusive society across all portfolios (see recommendation 5.2).

More recommendations 

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.