Recommendation 5.6 – New governance arrangements for disability

What has been achieved to date

This recommendation has been noted. Please refer to the Australian Government response below for additional information.

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the Final Report

The Australian Government should establish:

• a portfolio responsible for the disability and carers policies and programs currently the responsibility of the Social Services portfolio
• a ministerial position – the Minister for Disability Inclusion – responsible for disability inclusion strategy, policies and programs that are currently under the remit of the Minister for Social Services
• a Department of Disability Equality and Inclusion, responsible for the national disability and carers policies and programs that are currently the responsibility of the Department of Social Services.

People with disability should be recruited to positions within the new department, including into leadership positions.

These new arrangements should be established by the end of 2024.

Australian Government Response July 2024

The Australian Government supports strong national leadership on disability policy and programs. The Government currently has two Cabinet positions with responsibility for national disability policies and programs: The Minister for Social Services and the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Both federal Cabinet Ministers with responsibility for disability are also members of the Disability Reform Ministerial Council (DRMC), which includes Commonwealth, state and territory ministers with responsibility for disability policy. DRMC meets regularly to consider ways to improve and implement policy through Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and the NDIS. It reports to National Cabinet, signifying the importance governments places on matters affecting people with disability.

The Minister for Social Services and Minister for the NDIS are working closely together with relevant Commonwealth, state and territory ministers to drive national change in response to the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review to ensure Australia is safe, accessible and inclusive for people with disability. This work will continue to be led by the Department of Social Services, which will continue to work closely with all relevant departments and agencies to drive and promote accessible and inclusive approaches to policy, program and service design and implementation across all systems.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.