Responsibility: State and territory governments
Response:
ACT, TAS, VIC: Accept
NSW, QLD, WA, SA, NT: Accept in principle
Australian Capital Territory
Response: Accept
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The ACT Government continues to review and update its disability strategies and plans. The ACT Disability Strategy 2024-2033, ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024-2033 were released in 2024 and provide an initial response to, and alignment with, Disability Royal Commission recommendations.
The recently released ACT Disability Justice Strategy 2019-2029 Second Action Plan considered Disability Royal Commission recommendations as they relate to issues of abuse, violence, neglect and the intersectionality of the justice system in the lives of people with disability. The intent, actions and desired outcomes of the Disability Justice Strategy align closely with the Safety, Rights and Justice Targeted Action Plan and outcome area of Australia’s Disability Strategy. The Office for Disability, in partnership with other ACT Government directorates and the ACT Disability Reference Group, continues to actively progress work to support Disability Inclusion Act 2024 implementation in the ACT.
This new law commenced on 17 March 2025 and introduces a legislative framework for disability policy in the ACT founded on an understanding of the social model of disability, United Nation’s Convention of the Rights of People with Disability (UNCRPD), and Australia's Disability Strategy principles and commitments.
ACT government response July 2024
The ACT Government will continue to review and update its disability strategies and plans. The recently released ACT Disability Strategy 2024-2033, ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024-2033, and their associated action plans, provide an initial response to, and alignment with, Disability Royal Commission recommendations.
During development of the upcoming ACT Disability Justice Strategy 2019-2029 Second Action Plan, the ACT Government has considered Disability Royal Commission recommendations as they relate to issues of abuse, violence, neglect and the intersectionality of the justice system in the lives of people with disability.
The intent, actions and desired outcomes of the Disability Justice Strategy align closely with the Safety, Rights and Justice outcome area of the ADS. In line with the ADS, the Disability Justice Strategy aims to improve access to justice and protect and fulfil the right to equality and non-discrimination for people with disability in the ACT.
New South Wales
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has commenced a review of the current NSW Disability Inclusion Plan (DIP). The next NSW DIP will incorporate feedback from the disability community, as well as NSW commitments on key national disability reforms including the Disability Royal Commission, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review, and revisions to Australia’s Disability Strategy and its Targeted Action Plans.
DCJ is consulting with the disability sector, including the NSW Disability Council, sector peaks and advocacy organisations. Targeted consultation occurred in the first half of 2025.
The next NSW DIP is expected to be released December 2025, in line with the four-year cycle for NSW DIP renewals.
Once finalised, the new NSW DIP will shape the development of updated Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs) across the NSW public authorities. Public authorities, which are departments or entities specified in the Disability Inclusion Regulation 2023, are expected to publish their new DIAPs within six months of publication of the new NSW DIP.
NSW government response July 2024
The NSW Disability Inclusion Plan 2021–2025 (DIP) is intended to align with Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS). The NSW Government will undertake a strategic review of the NSW DIP.
This review will examine further opportunities for alignment between the next DIP and the ADS, including the outcomes of recommendation 5.2. Following this review, the NSW Government is expecting to launch a refreshed NSW DIP which will incorporate commitments of the NSW Government in response to the Disability Royal Commission.
The NSW Government will partner with people with disability and their Appendix A: NSW Government Response to Disability Royal Commission recommendations 23 representative organisations, including the Disability Council NSW, to prepare the refreshed NSW DIP and Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs). NSW Government departments and prescribed entities will prepare new or remade DIAPs by mid-2025.
Northern Territory
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The Northern Territory Government is on track to deliver its second Action Plan under the Northern Territory Disability Strategy 2022-2032. Action Plan 2025-2029 will commence in mid to late 2025 and will reflect new initiatives and programs being developed across the Northern Territory to better support and improve the lives of Territorians with disability and build on identified priorities, aligned to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review.
NT government response July 2024
The Northern Territory Disability Strategy 2022-2032 is being implemented through the first 3-year Action Plan 2022-2025. As part of the Northern Territory’s review of the action plan in 2025, consideration will be given to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission. The development of the next Action Plan 2025-2027 will be informed by engagement and consultation with people with disability, their families, carers, disability organisations and NT Government agencies.
Queensland
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
Planning has commenced for the review of Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27: Together, a better Queensland. A full review and co-design process will be undertaken following the review and update of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 by the Commonwealth Government.
QLD government response
The Queensland Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission. The Queensland Government has updated its responses to a range of Disability Royal Commission recommendations to reflect contemporary Queensland Government policy and commitments.
2025 Response
The Queensland Government will review and update Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27: Together, a better Queensland (QDP) following the finalisation of review and update of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (Recommendation 5.2).
South Australia
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The South Australian Department of Human Services, on behalf of the South Australian Government, is currently finalising the next iteration of the State Disability Inclusion Plan (State Plan) in partnership with South Australian Government Agencies.
This includes consultation with people with lived experience and the broader disability sector throughout 2023 and further consultation on the draft State Plan and outcomes framework, which commenced in April 2025. The new State Plan will be finalised and released in the middle of 2025 and will reflect commitments responding to recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission.
SA government response July 2024
The Australian governments have commenced a focused review of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31 (ADS Review) to consider the issues raised in the Disability Royal Commission and to take account of feedback from the first two years of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31 implementation. The review is being undertaken with the active involvement of the Australia’s Disability Strategy Advisory Council and will consider the Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31 and its artefacts and processes, including Targeted Actions Plans (concluding and new). It will focus on identifying practical process, governance and reporting improvements, and addressing key gaps or missing elements. The review will inform the publication of changes to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31 and implementation processes before the end of 2024. A separate major evaluation of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31, focused on outcomes, is due to commence in 2025 and be completed in 2026.
Tasmania
Response: Accept
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The review of Tasmania’s Disability Strategy is nearing completion, and the new strategy is close to public release.
TAS government response July 2024
The Tasmanian Government accepts this recommendation.
The Tasmanian Disability Strategy is currently being actively reviewed, in consultation with Tasmanians with disability, and will reflect the findings of the Disability Royal Commission.
Victoria
Response: Accept
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
Victoria published the Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022-26 midway report on 6 December 2024, showcasing progress over the first two years (2022 - 2024). The report highlights achievements across the plan’s 175 actions, providing a comprehensive update on the status of each action, and reflects new and updated actions.
The midway report is accompanied by a report on the refreshed state disability plan outcomes framework, and an outcomes report measuring progress against outcomes using publicly available data.
The midway report notes that implementation continues amidst significant reform work arising from the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review recommendations.
There will be opportunity for Victorian Government departments to include new initiatives in the next state disability plan, which will reflect how the Victorian Government is undertaking policy and service changes in response to reform directions.
VIC government response July 2024
We accept this recommendation in full.
It aligns with things we are already doing.
We will make sure the future state disability plan reflects the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations.
Western Australia
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The WA Government launched the State Disability Strategy Third Action Plan on 5 February 2025. The Plan outlines 69 actions involving 17 public and private sector agencies to drive better outcomes for people with disability across 2025 and 2026. The timing of developing the Third Action Plan aligned with the review of the Australia's Disability Strategy (rec 5.2) and consideration of the issues raised by the Disability Royal Commission. Consultation for the Third Action Plan included peak disability bodies Developmental Disability WA and National Disability Services WA.
The WA Department of Communities is developing an implementation plan to progress actions across government and the wider community
WA government response July 2024
The WA Government accepts in principle this recommendation. Implementation is subject to implementation of recommendation 5.2 and engagement with people with disability and their supporters.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
State and territory governments should review and update their disability strategies and plans to ensure they reflect the issues raised and recommendations made by this Royal Commission.
These reviews and updates should:
- consider how these strategies and plans align with Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031, including outcomes of Recommendation 5.2
- be undertaken in partnership with people with disability and their representative organisations.
The reviews and updates should be completed by mid-2025.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.