Legal and Policy Frameworks

Discover related resources in the Disability Inclusion and Disasters Collection.

A human rights-based approach to disability inclusion in the context of disasters is enabled and mandated through international conventions and agreements and Australia's domestic policy landscape.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda) is a global blueprint to create a better world. It has 17 Sustainable development goals (SDGs) focused on peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The Agenda pledges to leave no one behind and recognises disability as an issue that cuts across all SDGs. For emergency management, the SDG 13, with the target 13.1 specifically focusing on strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters. A UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development states, relating to SDG 13, warns of the failure to consult with people with disability, and their representative organisations, in the development of emergency plans. Obstacles to full participation in society for people with disability prior to disaster will exacerbate their risk before, during and after disaster.

View the Sustainable Development Goals View the UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with Disability

The Disability Royal Commission was established in April 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability.

The Disability Royal Commission investigated:

preventing and better protecting people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
achieving best practice in reporting, investigating and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability
promoting a more inclusive society that supports people with disability to be independent and live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The Royal Commission provided 222 recommendations. Some recommendations related to disasters and emergency management can be found under:

Recommendation 5.4: Review of national agreements, strategies and plans
Recommendation 6.1: A national plan to promote accessible information and communications
Recommendation 7.35: Increase the availability and supply of accessible and adaptive housing for people with disability through the National Construction Code

View the Final Report View the Emergency Planning and Response Issues Paper View responses to the Emergency Planning and Response Issues Paper