Source: Office of the ACT Attorney General, Hon Simon Corbell and Office of the ACT Minister for Disability and Community Services, Hon Katy Gallagher

MEDIA RELEASE

The Attorney General, Simon Corbell, together with the Minister for Disability and Community Services, Katy Gallagher, will today officially launch the new ACT Human Rights Commission.

The Commission replaces the ACT Office for Human Rights.  It is an amalgamation of the Community and Health Services Complaints Commission and the Human Rights Office and a product of two new offices dealing with disability services and children and young people.

Under the new structure, Dr Helen Watchirs will continue to perform the dual role of Human Rights Commissioner and Discrimination Commissioner, Philip Moss will perform the role of Health Services Commissioner and Ms Linda Crebbin will perform the dual roles of the new Disability and Community Services Commissioner and Children and Young People Commissioner.

"The commission represents a new structure for statutory oversight in the ACT," said Mr Corbell.

"It aims to deliver better quality services to the community and to the Government, both in oversight and advocacy terms and also by actively promoting improvements in the delivery of human services."

Ms Gallagher said the new positions were established under a human rights framework — which was unique in Australia — and a first for the ACT.

“The Disability Services Commissioner has powers to consult with people with disability, investigate and resolve complaints, promote community discussion and identify, inquire and review issues relating to the provision of disability services that may be the subject of a complaint,” she said.

“The establishment of the Disability Services Commissioner demonstrates the Government has listened to the voices of people with disability through the Board of Inquiry into Disability Services, the Disability Reform Group, the Disability Advisory Council and Legislation Reform Working Group.

“The Children and Young People Commissioner has powers including the ability to listen to and consult children and young people —to investigate and resolve complaints and to ensure that the work of the Human Rights Commission is inclusive of children and young people, and is accessible to them.”

Ms Gallagher said that more than 360 children aged between 2 and 12 years old — along with around 145 young people aged between 13 years and 18 years old — contributed their ideas and suggestions about how a Commissioner could make a difference.

Mr Corbell said the establishment of the commission followed a sustained period of consultation and review which culminated in the Government's foundation document, The Right System for Rights Protection.

"The new body will provide a single access point for people who want to access a range of complaints resolution, service improvement and community education facilities," he said. "It will be more streamlined, fair and accessible and it will be more efficient and flexible to meet new demands."

Statement Ends/ 4 April 2007

Media Contact for Minister Corbell:  Monika Boogs        6205 0497 (w)            0419423603(m)        

Media Contact for Minister Gallagher: Brendan Ryan    6205 0167 (w) 0408092254(m)