Australian Human Rights Commission
Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – 25 July 2019
4.6
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (CRPD
art 11, CO 22–23, LOI 12)
55.
The Commission welcomes the Australian Government’s support of the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) and the work
of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience and National Resilience
Taskforce. However, the Commission is concerned that the National
Strategy for Disaster Resilience (2011) and the National Disaster Risk
Reduction Framework do not integrate a disability perspective as required
by the Sendai Framework.
56.
The Commission has argued for improved community accessibility in
reconstruction programs following disasters. The Commission submits
that funding for disaster recovery should include provision for new
buildings or refurbishments to meet the Disability (Access to Premises—
Building) Standards 2010.
Recommendation 24: The Australian Government revise the National
Strategy for Disaster Resilience and other relevant policies and
frameworks, to align with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction (2015-2030), including to:
a. ensure emergency information and warning systems are fully
available, free and accessible throughout Australia for all persons
with disability
b. provide explicitly for accessibility for and inclusion of people with
disability in all responses to situations of risk
c. require all public services to develop individual and local plans for
the safe evacuation of people with disability in consultation with
people with disability through their representative organisations.
Recommendation 25: The Australian Government require that all funding
for disaster recovery include provision for new buildings or buildings
requiring refurbishment as a result of natural disasters to meet the
Disability (Access to Premises—Building) Standards 2010.
4.7
Equal recognition before the law (CRPD art 12, CO 24-26,
LOI 13)
57.
The Commission is concerned by a lack of progress in implementing a
nationally consistent supported decision-making framework, as
recommended in the Equality, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth
Laws report by the ALRC.48
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