Carer screening to protect people with disabilities

Private Members Bill Title Disability Services (Criminal History) Amendment Bill 2009

Date introduced into Parliament   October 7, 2009 

Objectives of the Bill
The LNP Disability Services (Criminal History) Amendment Bill 2009 aims to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. A person with a disability is reliant of their carer for their needs, including safety.  To have a carer who jeopardises that safety is not acceptable.

The LNP Bill would ensure an employed carer cannot have a violent criminal history (convictions within the last seven years would mean automatic exclusion; charges would be reviewed by the Chief Executive).

 Reasons for the Bill
People with disabilities trust their carers to care for them. While the vast majority of carers are worthy of that trust and undertake an important and compassionate role, there have been some incidents of carers abusing a person with a disability.  The impact of this abuse is far-reaching, affecting not just their physical wellbeing, but also their emotional, social and sometimes psychological health as well.

Labor’s stance on this Bill
The Bligh Labor Government introduced its own Criminal History Screening Bill on February 9, 2010 – four months after the introduction of the LNP Bill.  This action contrasts with Labor’s negative response to the LNP raising this issue 18 months previously. 
The Labor Bill, which incorporates the ideas and stance of the LNP, is the first sign of action from the Bligh Labor Government on this vital issue.

Links 
Disability Services (Criminal History) Amendment Bill 2009
Second reading of the Bill speech