Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI) has made a submission to the Review of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act. The submission calls for fundamental structural reform arguing that minor adjustments will not address the systemic barriers that continue to exclude people with disability from full participation in Australian life. The Review is part of the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) which called for substantial change. AFI also held a consultation forum on the review with members and stakeholders which has informed this submission. You can view this here https://www.advocacyforinclusion.org/afi-member-forum-where-now-for-disability-discrimination-and-the-future-of-advocacy/
This submission argues that meaningful reform requires two foundational shifts:
1. Positive duties that require organisations to prevent discrimination and remove barriers proactively.
2. Robust enforcement powers that allow systemic investigation and remedies, reducing the burden on individuals.
Without these changes, Australia will continue to rely on a model that is reactive, burdensome, and ineffective.