Disability royal commission: federal funding for probe

The royal commission into the disability sector will be funded by the federal government, with the PM to release its draft terms-of-reference today.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced federal government funding for the royal commission into the disability sector. Picture: AAP

The federal government will fully fund a royal commission into the disability sector, with Scott Morrison to release its draft terms of reference today.

The Prime Minister said the commonwealth would foot the bill for the probe, despite previously demanding the states fund it.

“The commonwealth will be fully funding the royal commission into disabilities. Of course we had to ask the question,” Mr Morrison said.

The draft terms-of-reference will be publicly available for feedback until March 28.

“Once we have gone through the consultation phase we will move quickly to establish that terms-of-reference. This will also include consultation with the federal opposition,” Mr Morrison said.

“This royal commission into disabilities is focused on people with disabilities. It is focused on how they have been mistreated, abused, not respected, been held back, not been able to realise their opportunities to live full and complete lives in this country.

“In the draft terms-of-reference there is no time frame limit on the way back in history where people will be able to bring forward their stories and to talk about the way they have had to live their lives as a person in Australia with disabilities.”