Australian Human Rights Commission CRPD information concerning Australia – 11.03.13 47. The Commission notes that the National Disability Strategy is to play an important role in ensuring that the principles underpinning the Convention are incorporated into policies and programs affecting people with disability, their families and their carers and play an important role in protecting, promoting and fulfilling the human rights of people with disability.25 48. The National Human Rights Action Plan (see section 3.3 above) provides that the Australian Government would continue to work on preparing a national action framework for implementing the National Disability Strategy.26 49. The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 Report to COAG 2012 was presented to COAG on 15 January 2013.27 The report incorporates Laying the Groundwork 2011-2014, the first of three implementation plans that establish the foundations for delivering and reporting on the National Disability Strategy. Periodic reporting on a bi-annual basis has been introduced to monitor the progress of implementation of the National Disability Strategy. 50. The Commission welcomes the release of the first implementation plan. At the same time, the Commission is deeply concerned that the delayed release of the implementation plan has placed significant delays on the National Disability Strategy. 51. The Commission notes that the draft trend indicators included in the implementation plan and identified in the initial strategy will be utilised to demonstrate change over time. The Commission acknowledges that work with respect to the draft trend indicators will be conducted in the early part of 2013. However, the Commission is concerned at the lack of development of performance indicators to demonstrate change over time in the six outcome areas of the National Disability Strategy. 3.7 National Disability Insurance Scheme 52. The Commission welcomed the announcement of the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from July 2013 which will provide people with disability to access care and support services.28 The Commission notes that it will be essential for there to be active engagement with people with disability, their families and carers in the development, implementation and monitoring of the NDIS to ensure that the scheme is comprehensive, robust and responsive to the needs of people with disability. 53. The draft legislation for the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 was released on 29 November 2012.29 The Bill was referred to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee and submissions were requested by 25 January 2013. The reporting date is 13 March 2013. 54. The Commission welcomed the Bill and congratulated the Australian Government on the extent of consultation undertaken in the development of the Bill and of the NDIS in accordance with article 4.3 of the Disability Convention. 55. The Commission’s submission focused on areas of employment of people with disability, independent review and complaints mechanisms, standard setting 10