Parliament recognises the need to lift the employment of people with disability

A unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives this morning highlighted the need to generate increased employment opportunities for Australians with disability.

Supporting a motion initiated by WA Senator Judi Moylan, the House acknowledged that the workforce participation rate of people with disability is too low, increasing only slightly between 1998 and 2009 (from 53.2% to 54.3%). The Australian Public Service's employment rate for people with disability has fallen over the past 15 years to a low of 3.1% in 2010.
The motion recognises that "there are still widespread misconceptions and stereotypes influencing the attitudes and behaviour of employers, recruiters and governments".
It identifies some positive recent policy changes including the uncapping of the Disability Employment Services program. The motion calls on the Government to provide leadership and improve participation rates of people with disability.
There is discussion across Government about the workforce participation rate of people with disability and the related growth of the Disability Support Pension population to almost 800,000 people. This discussion is related to long-term concerns about the effect of population ageing on the tax base. The ratio of people of working age to people aged over 65 years will almost halve over the next 40 years. Earlier this year the Prime Minister identified increased workforce participation as central to the Government's economic agenda and she highlighted people on DSP as a potential source of workers. This is a discussion in which the disability sector needs to be actively engaged. 
NDS's view is that a hasty narrowly-focussed response won't be effective. Experience suggests that tightening the eligibility for DSP, for example, would simply shift most people onto other forms of income support. What is required is a considered and comprehensive policy response that:

• has the employment of people with disability (not reducing the DSP population) as the primary focus
• reflects the heterogeneity of the DSP population
• recognises that some of the key barriers to employment lie outside the workplace (the shortage of accessible public transport, for example)
• focuses on ways to stimulate employer demand and receptiveness
• requires government to lead - as employers of people with disability and as purchasers from organisations that have a demonstrable commitment to the employment of people with disability
• strengthens disability employment service programs 
• reduces the disincentives to work - by lowering the pension withdrawal rate; and lifting the Mobility Allowance, for example

NDS is represented on DEEWR's Employment Partnerships Committee, which is actively debating employment participation policy. NDS's Policy Research Unit is also preparing a policy paper on the employment of people with disability. 

Contact Information:
Ken Baker, Chief Executive, NDS National, Ph 02 6283 3200, ken.baker@nds.org.au