Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) was established in April 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability.

The Disability Royal Commission inquired into a broad range of matters including:

• what governments, institutions and the community should do to prevent, and better protect, people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, having regard to the extent of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by people with disability in all settings and contexts
• what governments, institutions and the community should do to achieve best practice to encourage reporting of, and effective investigations of and responses to, violence against, and abuse, neglect and exploitation of, people with disability, including addressing failures in, and impediments to, reporting, investigating and responding to such conduct
• what should be done to promote a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Disability Royal Commission final report

The Disability Royal Commission released its final report on 29 September 2023 outlining 222 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Read the Disability Royal Commission final report on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability website.

Northern Territory response to Royal Commission

The Northern Territory Government acknowledges the extensive work and thousands of experiences shared in the delivery of the Disability Royal Commission.

The Northern Territory Government is committed to working with the Commonwealth, states and territories to address issues identified by the Disability Royal Commission and to create meaningful and lasting changes to prevent, and better protect people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The Northern Territory Government commences its caretaker period on 1 August 2024 ahead of the Northern Territory election on 24 August 2024 and the Territory’s response to the state and territory only recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission will be considered by the incoming government, post-election.

Government recognised that it is important that any changes to the disability ecosystem are progressed with the deep engagement of the disability community. This includes those with diverse lived experiences to ensure all people with disability experience better outcomes in the future.

The Northern Territory Government has invested $920,000 to support consultation with the disability community and stakeholders and are working with the disability advocacy groups to support this work. Consultation with the disability community will commence by September 2024.

The Northern Territory Government will consider and implement any responses to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission in tandem with the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review final report, and in consultation with the disability community.

The Northern Territory Government will continue to prioritise supports for people with disability through the 10-year Northern Territory disability strategy 2022-2032 and the strategy’s 3-year action plan 2022-2025 with the support of the Disability Advisory Committee.

National response

On 31 July 2024, a national response to the 85 recommendations with joint Commonwealth, state and territory responsibility was released. To read the joint response, go to the Australian Government's Department of Social Services website.

The Northern Territory Government continues to work with its Commonwealth and state and territory counterparts to progress implementation of the recommendations with joint responsibility.