Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink to release interim report into disability sector gaps, after Ann Marie Smith’s tragic death

Ann Marie Smith’s shocking death sparked emotional pleas to fix safety gaps in the disability sector. On Tuesday the first report of a task force set up in the wake of that horror will be released.

• Task force hands over report into safety issues for disabled
• After prior catastrophes, this has to be the final wake-up call

Calls to reboot a scheme that checks on vulnerable South Australians have been backed by the state’s legal fraternity, as the first report of a task force looking into disability safeguards is set for release on Tuesday.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink is expected to make a statement to Parliament and release the interim report on Tuesday afternoon. The task force was set up amid public horror at the death of SA woman Ann Marie Smith, who was a client of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

SA Police is investigating the circumstances leading to her “disgusting and degrading” death in April, from severe septic shock and multiple organ failure.

The task force was set up amid public horror at the death of SA woman Ann Marie Smith, who was a client of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

In a statement to The Advertiser, the SA Law Society backed a Labor plan to revive parts of the state’s Community Visitor Scheme that were cut back after disability care services moved from state to federal control in 2018.

Law Society SA president Tim White said a lack of connection between the two levels of government raised the risk of abuse for vulnerable people.

“There are currently federal and state laws designed to protect people with disability from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, but the current regimes have significant gaps, in part due to the way the … jurisdictions interact,” he said.

“Those gaps can have grave consequences for the safety of people with disability in the community. The proposed implementation of a Community Visitor Scheme with appropriate safeguards … would go a significant way to providing a legal safety net and addressing some of these.”

Law Society SA president Tim White said a lack of connection between the two levels of government raised the risk of abuse for vulnerable people.

The Law Society, which has made a submission to the task force, also proposes expanding the Adult Safeguarding Unit, set up in 2019 and currently focusing on elder abuse, to cover people with a disability.

Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said the interim report should have been released immediately, with firm action taken.

“We’ve got confidence in the role of the Community Visitor,” she said. “Restoration and strengthening is one of the first moves needed to be made.”

Ms Lensink said the Law Society had also highlighted “significant shortfalls” in Labor’s plan that needed more work.