The Disability Information and Resource Centre

14 April 2009

Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, today congratulated the Victorian Government on its announcement of the Build for Life awareness campaign, which will include consideration of mandating greater accessibility in new housing developments.

The announcement by Minister Madden and Minister Neville commits the Government to assessing the impact of requiring a number of low cost, or no cost, design features including step free entry, wider doorways and hallways and a bathroom on the ground floor which could be fitted out with access features in the future.

“With this initiative, the Victorian Government is taking action to face a reality which most of us try to avoid – we’re getting older.” Commissioner Innes said.

By 2050 more than 26 percent of the population will be over 65, and almost eight percent will be over 85. As people live longer, they are living a greater part of their life with a disability – on average for almost 20 years.

One of the consequences aging is that the need for more accessibility in our housing increases and as a result, either costly modifications need to be undertaken, or people have to move to find housing that meets their needs. This involves even greater economic and social cost.

“Designing houses and apartment blocks to include these features will mean that more and more people will be able to stay in their homes as their needs change,” Commissioner Innes said. “It will also mean that people with a disability will have more options to meet their housing needs and find it easier to visit family and friends.

“To put it simply, in the context of our changing demography, housing that does not meet our needs as our needs change is just not sustainable.” said Mr Innes.

Commissioner Innes said he would like to see this initiative taken up by all Governments throughout Australia.

“Victorians are not the only ones who are getting more and more candles on that cake each year,” he said.

For further information on the Australian Human Rights Commission call for a national housing strategy to improve accessibility see humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/speeches/2006/housing.htm

Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529

2 July 2008

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today announced two substantive appointments to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. These appointments were welcomed by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten and Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson.

Mr Graeme Innes AM has been appointed Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Mr Tom Calma has been appointed as Race Discrimination Commissioner.

Since 1997, the former Government refused to fill these positions – instead appointing acting Commissioners while they unsuccessfully tried to enact legislation to weaken the independence of the Commission.

“It is clearly unacceptable to have acting appointments for periods exceeding 10 years,” Mr McClelland said.

“Both Commissioners have made a significant contribution to the public debate on disability and race discrimination and have enhanced the Commission’s role in advancing and protecting human rights in Australia.”

Mr Innes is the current Human Rights Commissioner and has acted as Disability Discrimination Commissioner since December 2005. Mr Calma is the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and has acted as the Race Discrimination Commissioner since July 2004.

“Mr Innes is an extremely effective representative of the disability sector, campaigning for equal treatment and access for people with disabilities,” Mr Shorten said.

“Mr Calma is a strong advocate of all Australians being treated equally, regardless of their background,” Mr Ferguson said.

The Rudd Government will work with the Commission on options for its long-term structure to ensure that it can continue its important role in promoting human rights in Australia.

Media Contact:
Adam Sims (Mr McClelland) 0419 480 224
Cath Sullivan (Mr Shorten) 0448 025 042
Khaldoun Hajaj (Mr Ferguson) 0404 078 692