Australian Human Rights Commission
Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – 25 July 2019
4.24 National implementation and monitoring (CRPD art 33, CO
57-58, LOI 35)
124.
The Commission is of the view that a clear coordination mechanism is
needed to facilitate whole of Government action to implement the CRPD,
including to monitor measures for implementation, develop further
measures for implementation and to coordinate the ongoing processes
for reporting under the CRPD.122
125.
As discussed in paragraph 20, the Productivity Commission recommended
a new NDA to better promote cooperation, enhance accountability and
clarify roles and responsibility of Commonwealth, State and Territory
governments. The Productivity Commission also recommended that the
NDA articulate how governments intended to fulfil Australia’s
commitments under the CRPD.123 A strengthened NDA could serve as an
overarching funding mechanism for implementation of the NDS and
CRPD.
126.
In 2017, the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
recommended the Australian Government establish an Office of Disability
Strategy as a coordination strategy for the NDS.124 This Office could sit
within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and drive national
implementation and monitoring of the CRPD across all agencies and levels
of Government.
Recommendation 67: The Australian Government ensure that an updated
National Disability Agreement embeds the obligations provided by the
CRPD and serves as coordination and funding mechanism for
implementation of the NDS and CRPD.
Recommendation 68: The Australian Government stablish an Office of
Disability Strategy, within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,
as a central national coordination agency to drive implementation and
monitoring of the CRPD across all agencies and levels of Government.
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