Law banning discrimination against disabled welcomed

Disability Services Minister Eric Ripper today welcomed Federal plans to broaden the legal protection from discrimination, for people with disabilities.

Mr Ripper said Western Australia could be proud that State legislation, banning such discrimination, took effect in January, 1989.

"Commonwealth legislation, due to be introduced to Federal Parliament this week, will complement our State law and further protect people with disabilities from discrimination," the Minister said.

"This will benefit the estimated 190,000 Western Australians - or one in eight of the population - who have a disability."

Mr Ripper said there was already complementary Federal-State legislation banning discrimination on the grounds of sex or race and it was overdue for this to be extended to disability.

Current State legislation, while wide-ranging, could not protect people with disabilities against any discrimination by Commonwealth Government departments and instrumentalities, for example, on employment issues.

"The experience of the Equal Opportunity Commission in WA is that the vast majority of inquiries and complaints by people with disabilities under the State legislation, relate to issues surrounding employment."

In the last financial year, there were 522 inquiries (or 8.6 per cent of the total) to the commission and 60 formal complaints (or 12.3 per cent of the total) by people claiming to have been discriminated against on the grounds of physical or intellectual impairment.

Fifty-one - or 85 per cent of the complaints - related to employment issues.

"I have been approached by various key people and agencies in the WA disabilities field who have supported the Commonwealth initiative."

The Minister said there had already been extensive public consultation on the planned new Federal legislation.

"The Federal Government says debate on the Bill will be held over until the August session, to enable even more public input.

"The Bill will be the first to be published in print, audio and braille to enable maximum access for people with disabilities," Mr Ripper said.