Responsibility: Australian, state and territory governments
Joint Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
All governments continue to consider opportunities to build on, or adopt procurement policies that create employment opportunities for people with disability.
Governments are also considering opportunities to use procurement to boost the accessibility of Information and Communication Technology.
The New South Wales (NSW) Government has committed to using the NSW Procurement Framework to improve the employment opportunities for people with disability, including by:
- increasing training, support and skill development for disability enterprises, to assist them with tendering processes
- working with and assisting disability enterprises to transition to open employment settings in which the minimum wage is paid to people with disability
- improving reporting and accountability requirements for procuring agencies
- enhancing training to government procurement officials on relevant requirements.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
The Australian Government and state and territory governments should adopt procurement policies that:
a) favour businesses and entities able to demonstrate, in accordance with published criteria, they are providing employment opportunities for people with disability in open, inclusive and accessible settings, including people with intellectual disability or cognitive impairments.
b) require all information and communication technology purchases to comply with the current Australian information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility standard (AS EN 301 549:2020 – Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services).
Joint Government response July 2024
The Australian Government and state and territory governments support continued action to increase opportunities for people with disability in public sector employment across Australia.
All governments recognise that people with disability have a right to work, and that employment supports an individual’s social and economic participation and independence in society.
As large employers, public services have a crucial national role as leaders in modelling best practice inclusion that can positively influence other employers and workplaces.
Governments agree that specific employment targets can have a positive impact on the number of people with disability employed in the public sector, noting that some jurisdictions may need to further consider data limitations and privacy considerations before committing to disaggregated targets.
The Australian Government and state and territory governments also support continued and increased focus on ensuring public sector workplaces are accessible and inclusive for people with disability, including through workplace adjustments. Public service commissioners will work together to share best practice on improving public sector employment outcomes for people with disability.
Governments also support in principle adopting procurement policies that encourage inclusive employment practices in the private sector, noting governments will individually consider opportunities and approaches that most appropriately work with respective government procurement frameworks.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.