{"id":"a-2024-44","name":"Disability Inclusion Act 2024","slug":"disability-inclusion-act-2024","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"44 of 2024","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23414,"registerId":"act-a-2024-44-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Disability Inclusion Act 2024","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nA2024-44\nRepublication No 1\nEffective: 17 March 2025\nRepublication date: 17 March 2025\nAct not amended\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Disability Inclusion Act 2024 (including any amendment made under\nthe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 17 March 2025. It also\nincludes any commencement, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act 2\n3 Dictionary 2\n4 Notes 2\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and principles\n5 Object of Act 3\n6 Important concepts 3\n7 Disability inclusion principles 4\nPart 3 Disability inclusion strategies\n8 Meaning of disability inclusion strategy 5\n9 Meaning of priority inclusion area and responsible Minister 5\n10 Disability inclusion strategies for the Territory 6\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n11 Disability inclusion strategies made in consultation with people with\ndisability etc 7\n12 Certain existing strategies may be adopted as first disability inclusion\nstrategy 8\n13 Disability inclusion strategies—annual progress report 10\nPart 4 Disability inclusion plans\n14 Definitions—pt 4 11\n15 Disability inclusion plans 11\n16 Disability inclusion plan—consultation 13\n17 Relationship to other inclusion plans 14\n18 Annual report requirements 14\nPart 5 Disability Advisory Council\n19 Establishment of council 16\n20 Functions of council 16\n21 Membership of council 16\n22 Ending appointments 19\n23 Operation of council 19\n24 Arrangements for staff and facilities 19\n25 Annual report by council 19\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\n26 Legal rights not affected 20\n27 Inconsistency with other territory laws 20\n28 Regulation-making power 20\n29 Review of Act 20\nSchedule 1 Disability inclusion principles 21\n1.1 General principles for disability inclusion 21\n1.2 Principles for disability inclusion in the ACT community 21\n\nContents\nPage\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\ncontents 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary 23\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 26\n2 Abbreviation key 26\n3 Legislation history 27\n4 Amendment history 27\n\n\n\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nAn Act to promote disability inclusion, and for other purposes\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nSection 1\npage 2 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Disability Inclusion Act 2024.\n3 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this Act\nand includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined\nelsewhere.\nFor example, the signpost definition ‘protected attribute—see the\nDiscrimination Act 1991, section 7.’ means that the term ‘protected\nattribute’ is defined in that section and the definition applies to this Act.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire Act unless the\ndefinition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the\ncontrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and\ns 156 (1)).\n4 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\n\nObject, important concepts and principles Part 2\nSection 5\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and\nprinciples\n5 Object of Act\n(1) The main object of this Act is to foster a community in the ACT\nwhere—\n(a) people with disability are recognised as an important and\nvaluable part of the diverse community; and\n(b) ableism is challenged and addressed; and\n(c) barriers to accessibility and inclusion are identified and\nremoved.\n(2) The object is to be achieved by requiring the development and review\nof—\n(a) disability inclusion strategies for the Territory; and\n(b) disability inclusion plans for the public sector.\n(3) In achieving the object, it is the Legislative Assembly’s intention that,\nto the extent reasonably practicable, the operation and administration\nof this Act is to support and further the principles of—\n(a) the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and\n(b) any other relevant international human rights instruments\naffecting people with disability, as in force from time to time.\n6 Important concepts\n(1) For this Act, disability inclusion is a process intended to achieve\nequity between people with disability and other members of the\ncommunity by doing the following:\n(a) ensuring equality of rights, opportunities, responsibilities and\noutcomes between people with disability and other members of\nthe community;\n\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and principles\nSection 7\npage 4 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) redressing disadvantage or discrimination affecting people with\ndisability;\n(c) addressing stigma, stereotyping, prejudice, violence, abuse,\nneglect or exploitation affecting people with disability;\n(d) accommodating difference by way of structural change;\n(e) addressing barriers to accessibility, including barriers\ncompounded by intersectionality.\n(2) For this Act, ableism is a belief that people with disability are, as a\nresult of disability, less worthy of respect and consideration, less able\nto contribute to or participate in society or of less inherent value than\npeople without disability.\n7 Disability inclusion principles\nThe disability inclusion principles are set out in schedule 1.\n\nDisability inclusion strategies Part 3\nSection 8\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Disability inclusion strategies\n8 Meaning of disability inclusion strategy\nIn this Act:\ndisability inclusion strategy, for the Territory, means a strategy for—\n(a) disability inclusion in the ACT community; and\n(b) the implementation of the disability inclusion principles in the\nACT.\n9 Meaning of priority inclusion area and responsible\nMinister\n(1) In this Act:\npriority inclusion area—each of the following is a priority inclusion\narea:\n(a) an area mentioned in the national disability strategy as an area\nin which improvement must be made to achieve the strategy’s\nobjective;\n(b) an area declared by the Minister.\nExamples—par (a)\n• employment and financial security\n• inclusive homes and communities\n• safety, rights and justice\n• personal and community support\n• education and learning\n• health and wellbeing\n• community attitudes\nresponsible Minister, for a priority inclusion area, means the Minister\ndeclared by the Chief Minister as the responsible Minister for the\npriority inclusion area.\n\nPart 3 Disability inclusion strategies\nSection 10\npage 6 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) Each of the following is a notifiable instrument:\n(a) a declaration under subsection (1), definition of priority\ninclusion area, paragraph (b);\n(b) a declaration under subsection (1), definition of responsible\nMinister.\n(3) In this section:\nnational disability strategy means the national disability policy\nframework developed by the Commonwealth, States, Territory and\nlocal governments, as in force from time to time.\nNote The national disability strategy is available at\nwww.disabilitygateway.gov.au.\n10 Disability inclusion strategies for the Territory\n(1) The responsible Minister for a priority inclusion area must, in\nconsultation with the Minister, make a disability inclusion strategy\nfor the Territory in relation to the priority inclusion area.\n(2) The disability inclusion strategy must—\n(a) be consistent with the disability inclusion principles; and\n(b) include strategies that do the following in relation to the priority\ninclusion area:\n(i) promote disability inclusion;\n(ii) reduce, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility;\n(iii) address ableism; and\n(c) include information about how the strategy relates to any other\nsignificant strategy (however named) that applies in the ACT in\nrelation to the priority inclusion area; and\n(d) include information for non-government entities about ways to\nsupport the disability inclusion strategy, including how to make\na disability inclusion plan.\n\nDisability inclusion strategies Part 3\nSection 11\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) The disability inclusion strategy expires 10 years after the day it\ncommences.\n(4) The responsible Minister for the priority inclusion area must, in\nconsultation with the Minister, make a new disability inclusion\nstrategy to replace the expiring disability inclusion strategy\n(an expiring strategy).\n(5) However, if the expiring strategy expires before a new disability\ninclusion strategy is made, the expiring strategy continues in force\nuntil the new strategy commences.\n(6) A disability inclusion strategy is a notifiable instrument.\n11 Disability inclusion strategies made in consultation with\npeople with disability etc\n(1) In preparing a disability inclusion strategy for a priority inclusion\narea, the responsible Minister for the priority inclusion area—\n(a) must consult—\n(i) people with disability; and\n(ii) families and carers of people with disability; and\n(iii) the council; and\n(iv) disabled peoples organisations and systemic advocacy\ngroups; and\n(b) may consult with any other significant entity that represents or\nsupports people with disability, or has expertise in relation to\ndisability inclusion.\n(2) The responsible Minister must take all practicable steps to ensure that\npeople consulted under subsection (1) reflect the diversity of the ACT\ncommunity, including by taking into account the diversity in the\ncommunity of—\n(a) disabilities and impairments; and\n\nPart 3 Disability inclusion strategies\nSection 12\npage 8 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) sexual and gender identities; and\n(c) life experiences, including the experiences of veterans; and\n(d) age groups; and\n(e) cultural and linguistic identities, including Aboriginal or Torres\nStrait Islander identity; and\n(f) socioeconomic backgrounds.\n(3) The responsible Minister must ensure that consultation is carried out\nin a way that—\n(a) supports a collaborative working arrangement with the people\nand entities consulted; and\n(b) seeks to ensure each person and entity consulted understands—\n(i) the consultation process; and\n(ii) how to take part effectively in the consultation and have\ntheir views and wishes heard; and\n(c) includes sufficient information, in a language and way each\nperson and entity consulted understands, to allow the person or\nentity to take part effectively in the consultation and have their\nviews and wishes understood.\n(4) Before making a disability inclusion strategy for a priority inclusion\narea, the responsible Minister must consider any comments received\nduring consultation.\n12 Certain existing strategies may be adopted as first\ndisability inclusion strategy\n(1) The responsible Minister for the priority inclusion area mentioned in\nan item in table 12, column 2 may adopt the strategy mentioned in the\nitem, column 3 as the first disability inclusion strategy for that priority\ninclusion area.\n\nDisability inclusion strategies Part 3\nSection 12\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) If a responsible Minister adopts a strategy mentioned in an item in\ntable 12, column 3 as a disability inclusion strategy—\n(a) the adopted strategy is taken to meet the requirements under\nsection 10 (2); and\n(b) the requirements under section 11 do not apply to the adopted\nstrategy; and\n(c) the disability inclusion strategy is taken to expire at the end of\nthe year mentioned in the item, column 4.\nTable 12\ncolumn 1\nitem\ncolumn 2\npriority inclusion area\ncolumn 3\nstrategy\ncolumn 4\nexpiry\n1 community attitudes ACT Disability Strategy 2024-2033 2033\n2 education and learning ACT Government Inclusive\nEducation: A Disability Inclusion\nStrategy for ACT Public Schools\n2024-2034\n2034\n3 health and wellbeing ACT Government Disability Health\nStrategy 2024-2033\n2033\n4 personal and\ncommunity support\nACT Disability Strategy 2024-2033 2033\n5 safety, rights and\njustice\nACT Government Disability Justice\nStrategy 2019-2029—A Strategy to\nAddress Unequal Access to Justice in\nthe ACT\n2029\n(3) This section expires on 1 December 2035.\n\nPart 3 Disability inclusion strategies\nSection 13\npage 10 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n13 Disability inclusion strategies—annual progress report\n(1) The responsible Minister for a priority inclusion area must, for each\nfinancial year, prepare a report setting out achievements under the\ndisability inclusion strategy for the financial year.\n(2) The report must not, without a person’s consent, include information\nthat—\n(a) identifies the person; or\n(b) would allow the person’s identity to be worked out.\n(3) The report must include any information prescribed by regulation.\n(4) The report must, not later than 3 months after the end of the financial\nyear—\n(a) if the Minister preparing the report is not the Minister for this\nAct—be given to the Minister for this Act; and\n(b) be published on an ACT government website.\n\nDisability inclusion plans Part 4\nSection 14\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 4 Disability inclusion plans\n14 Definitions—pt 4\nIn this part:\npublic sector entity means an administrative unit or a public sector\nbody.\nresponsible person, for a public sector entity, means—\n(a) for an administrative unit—the director-general; and\n(b) for a public sector body—the head of the public sector body.\n15 Disability inclusion plans\n(1) The responsible person for a public sector entity must make a plan for\nhow the public sector entity will implement disability inclusion and\naddress ableism within, and across the business of, the entity (a\ndisability inclusion plan).\n(2) The disability inclusion plan must—\n(a) be consistent with the disability inclusion principles and all\ndisability inclusion strategies; and\n(b) include information about how the public sector entity will\nimplement the disability inclusion strategies that relate to the\nwork of the public sector entity; and\n(c) include actions taken, or being developed, by the public sector\nentity to do the following:\n(i) promote disability inclusion;\n(ii) reduce, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility;\n(iii) address ableism; and\n(d) include any other matter prescribed by regulation.\n\nPart 4 Disability inclusion plans\nSection 15\npage 12 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) For subsection (1), the head of a public sector body may adopt the\ndisability inclusion plan made by the administrative unit allocated\nresponsibility for the Act under which the body is established.\nNote An administrative unit may be allocated responsibility for an Act under\nthe Public Sector Management Act 1994, s 14 (1) (b).\n(4) The disability inclusion plan must be made publicly available on an\nACT government website.\n(5) The disability inclusion plan must be reviewed—\n(a) on the commencement of a new disability inclusion strategy that\nrelates to the work of the public sector entity; and\n(b) at least once every 5 years after the plan is made.\n(6) For this section, a disability inclusion strategy relates to the work of\na public sector entity if the priority inclusion area for the disability\ninclusion strategy relates to—\n(a) for an entity that is an administrative unit—a matter the\nadministrative unit is allocated responsibility for under the\nPublic Sector Management Act 1994, section 14 (2); or\n(b) for an entity that is a public sector body—the functions of the\nhead of the public sector body.\nExample—par (a)\nThe disability inclusion strategy for education relates to the work of an\nadministrative unit if the administrative unit is allocated responsibility for school\neducation.\nExample—par (b)\nThe disability inclusion strategy for employment relates to the work of an office\nheaded by a statutory office-holder if the office-holder has functions relating to\nwork health and safety.\n\nDisability inclusion plans Part 4\nSection 16\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 13\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n16 Disability inclusion plan—consultation\n(1) In developing or reviewing a disability inclusion plan, the responsible\nperson for the public sector entity—\n(a) must consult—\n(i) people with disability; and\n(ii) families and carers of people with disability; and\n(iii) disabled peoples organisations and systemic advocacy\ngroups; and\n(b) may consult anyone else the responsible person considers\nappropriate, including any other significant entity that represents\nor supports people with disability, or has expertise in relation to\ndisability inclusion.\n(2) The responsible person must take all practicable steps to ensure that\npeople consulted under subsection (1) reflect the diversity of the ACT\ncommunity, including by taking into account the diversity in the\ncommunity of—\n(a) disabilities and impairments; and\n(b) sexual and gender identities; and\n(c) life experiences, including the experiences of veterans; and\n(d) age groups; and\n(e) cultural and linguistic identities, including Aboriginal or Torres\nStrait Islander identity; and\n(f) socioeconomic backgrounds.\n(3) The responsible person must ensure that consultation is carried out in\na way that—\n(a) supports a collaborative working arrangement with the people\nconsulted; and\n\nPart 4 Disability inclusion plans\nSection 17\npage 14 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) seeks to ensure each person consulted understands—\n(i) the consultation process; and\n(ii) how to take part effectively in the consultation and have\ntheir views and wishes heard; and\n(c) includes sufficient information, in a language and way each\nperson consulted understands, to allow the person to take part\neffectively in the consultation and have their views and wishes\nunderstood.\n(4) Before making the disability inclusion plan for the public sector\nentity, the responsible person must consider any comments received\nduring consultation.\n17 Relationship to other inclusion plans\nIf a public sector entity is required under another territory law to\nprepare a plan about the inclusion of people with disability, the\nresponsible person for the entity may prepare a single plan that\ncomplies with this Act and the other law.\n18 Annual report requirements\n(1) The director-general annual report for an administrative unit must\ninclude a statement describing measures taken by the administrative\nunit during the reporting year to do the following:\n(a) support the development and implementation of disability\ninclusion strategies;\n(b) develop and implement a disability inclusion plan.\n(2) A public sector body annual report for a public sector body must\ninclude a statement describing measures taken by the body during the\nreporting year to do the following:\n(a) support the development and implementation of disability\ninclusion strategies;\n\nDisability inclusion plans Part 4\nSection 18\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 15\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) for a public sector body headed by a public sector employer—\ndevelop and implement a disability inclusion plan.\n(3) An annual report must also include any information prescribed by\nregulation.\n(4) In this section:\ndirector-general annual report—see the Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, section 6 (1).\npublic sector body annual report—see the Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, section 7 (2).\npublic sector employer—see the Public Sector Management\nAct 1994, section 152 (1) (a).\n\nPart 5 Disability Advisory Council\nSection 19\npage 16 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 5 Disability Advisory Council\n19 Establishment of council\nThe Disability Advisory Council is established.\n20 Functions of council\n(1) The council has the following functions:\n(a) to advise the Minister about issues affecting people with\ndisability, including about the following:\n(i) the National Disability Insurance Scheme;\n(ii) the rights of people with disability, including under the\nConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disability;\n(iii) building an inclusive community;\n(b) to foster cooperative relationships between people with\ndisability, their families, their carers, relevant organisations,\ngovernment and the community;\nExample—relevant organisation\nan organisation representing disabled people\n(c) to exercise any other function given to the council under a\nterritory law.\n(2) In this section:\nNational Disability Insurance Scheme—see the National Disability\nInsurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwlth), section 9.\n21 Membership of council\n(1) The council is made up of—\n(a) the chair; and\n(b) the deputy chair; and\n\nDisability Advisory Council Part 5\nSection 21\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 17\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) at least 5, but not more than 13, ordinary members; and\n(d) a person appointed to an office prescribed by regulation; and\n(e) a representative of a body prescribed by regulation.\n(2) The Minister must appoint the following council members:\n(a) the chair;\n(b) the deputy chair;\n(c) the ordinary members.\nNote For laws about appointments, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.3.\n(3) The Minister may appoint a person to the council only if the Minister\nis satisfied that the person—\n(a) is a person with disability; or\n(b) is the carer of a person with disability; or\n(c) is committed to promoting disability inclusion; or\n(d) represents a disabled peoples organisation; or\n(e) has expertise in relation to disability services and disability\ninclusion.\n(4) A person appointed as the chair must be a person with disability.\n(5) At least half the ordinary members must be people with disability.\n(6) At least 1 ordinary member must be, or have experience as, an unpaid\ncarer of a person with disability.\n(7) The Minister must be satisfied that at least 1 council member is an\nAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.\n\nPart 5 Disability Advisory Council\nSection 21\npage 18 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(8) The Minister must take all practicable steps to ensure that the\nmembership of the council reflects the diversity of the ACT\ncommunity, including by taking into account the diversity in the\ncommunity of—\n(a) disabilities and impairments; and\n(b) sexual and gender identities; and\n(c) life experiences, including the experiences of veterans; and\n(d) age groups; and\n(e) cultural and linguistic identities, including Aboriginal or Torres\nStrait Islander identity; and\n(f) socioeconomic backgrounds.\n(9) An appointment must be for a term of not longer than 3 years.\n(10) A person must not be a council member for more than—\n(a) 2 consecutive terms; or\n(b) 3 non-consecutive terms.\n(11) In this section:\nAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person means a person who—\n(a) is a descendant of an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait\nIslander person; and\n(b) identifies as an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander\nperson; and\n(c) is accepted as an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander\nperson by an Aboriginal community or Torres Strait Islander\ncommunity.\n\nDisability Advisory Council Part 5\nSection 22\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n22 Ending appointments\nThe Minister may end the appointment of a council member—\n(a) for misconduct; or\n(b) if the Minister is satisfied that the member is, or is likely to be,\nunable to effectively exercise the member’s functions; or\n(c) if the member is absent, other than on leave approved by the\nMinister, from 3 consecutive meetings of the council.\n23 Operation of council\nThe council may conduct itself in the way it considers appropriate.\n24 Arrangements for staff and facilities\nThe council may arrange with the head of service to use the services\nof a public servant or Territory facilities.\nNote The head of service may delegate powers in relation to the management\nof public servants to a public servant or another person (see Public Sector\nManagement Act 1994, s 18).\n25 Annual report by council\nThe council must prepare an annual report under the Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, section 7.\nNote An annual report direction may include requirements about the council’s\nannual report (see Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004, s 8).\n\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\nSection 26\npage 20 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\n26 Legal rights not affected\nThe Legislative Assembly does not intend by this Act to create in any\nperson any legal right or give rise to any civil cause of action.\n27 Inconsistency with other territory laws\nIf a provision of this Act is inconsistent with a provision in any other\nterritory law, the provision in the other territory law prevails to the\nextent of the inconsistency.\n28 Regulation-making power\nThe Executive may make regulations for this Act.\n29 Review of Act\n(1) The Minister must as soon as practicable after the end of this Act’s\n5th year of operation—\n(a) review the operation and effectiveness of the Act; and\n(b) present a report of the review to the Legislative Assembly.\nNote A reference to an Act includes a reference to any statutory instrument\nmade or in force under the Act (see Legislation Act, s 104).\n(2) This section expires 7 years after the day it commences.\n\nDisability inclusion principles Schedule 1\nSection 1.1\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nSchedule 1 Disability inclusion principles\n(see s 7)\n1.1 General principles for disability inclusion\n(1) The disability inclusion principles are made up of the following:\n(a) the principles set out in the Convention on the Rights of Persons\nwith Disability;\n(b) in relation to people in a care relationship—the care relationship\nprinciples;\n(c) the principles for disability inclusion in the ACT community\nmentioned in section 1.2.\n(2) If a principle mentioned in subsection (1) (b) or (c) is inconsistent\nwith a principle mentioned in subsection (1) (a), the principle\nmentioned in subsection (1) (a) prevails.\n(3) In this section:\ncare relationship—see the Carers Recognition Act 2021,\nsection 6 (1).\ncare relationship principles—see the Carers Recognition Act 2021,\ndictionary.\n1.2 Principles for disability inclusion in the ACT community\n(1) People with disability are free to participate and engage in all aspects\nof life in the ACT.\n(2) The abilities, strengths, goals and needs of people with disability\ndevelop and change.\n(3) Barriers to accessibility may be compounded by intersectionality.\n(4) Universal design is the best practice method of designing\nenvironments without barriers to accessibility.\n\nSchedule 1 Disability inclusion principles\nSection 1.2\npage 22 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(5) Decision-making about the participation and engagement of people\nwith disability must be informed by the experience of the people\nabout whom decisions are being made.\n(6) People with disability have rights under the Human Rights Act 2004,\nthe Disability Services Act 1991 and the Discrimination Act 1991,\nincluding rights specific to being a person with disability, that must\nbe respected and protected.\n(7) Relationships between people with disability and their families,\ncarers and other significant people are a crucial part of the lives of\npeople with disability and should be preserved.\n(8) People with disability are free to associate with families, carers and\nother people in a way that they want.\n(9) People with disability should receive appropriate support to access\ninformation in a way that is appropriate for their disability to\nunderstand decisions to be made and to participate in\ndecision-making that affects them.\n(10) Addressing any disadvantage or vulnerability a person with disability\nexperiences in relation to other attributes, including protected\nattributes, may enhance their inclusion and participation in the\ncommunity.\n(11) Advocacy on behalf of people with disability, including self-\nadvocacy and systemic advocacy, should be recognised as essential\nto advance disability inclusion.\n\nDictionary\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 23\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 3)\nNote The Legislation Act contains definitions relevant to this Act.\nFor example:\n• administrative unit\n• director-general (see s 163)\n• entity\n• public sector body.\nableism—see section 6 (2).\naccessibility means provision for access by a person with disability,\non an equal basis with other people, to the following:\n(a) the physical environment;\n(b) transport;\n(c) information and communication (including information and\ncommunications systems and technologies);\n(d) facilities and services open or provided to the public.\nbarrier, to accessibility—\n(a) means anything that hinders the full and equal participation in\nsociety of people with disability; and\n(b) includes any physical, architectural, technological, policy,\nfinancial or attitudinal barrier to accessibility.\ncarer—see the Carers Recognition Act 2021, section 6 (1).\nConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities means the\nConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the\nGeneral Assembly of the United Nations on 13 December 2006, as\namended and in force for Australia from time to time.\nNote The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is accessible\nat www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities.\n\nDictionary\npage 24 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\ncouncil means the Disability Advisory Council established under\nsection 19.\ndisability—\n(a) means any impairment or functional limitation that, in\ninteraction with a barrier to accessibility, hinders the full and\nequal participation of a person with disability in society; and\n(b) includes an impairment or functional limitation—\n(i) that is permanent, temporary or episodic in nature; and\n(ii) whether or not it can be noticed by others.\ndisability inclusion—see section 6 (1).\ndisability inclusion plan—see section 15 (1).\ndisability inclusion principles means the principles established under\nsection 7.\ndisability inclusion strategy—see section 8.\ndisabled peoples organisation means an organisation led by and\nmade up of people with disability.\ndiscrimination—see the Discrimination Act 1991, section 8.\nimpairment includes physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive,\nlearning, communication or sensory impairment.\nintersectionality means the interconnected nature of attributes,\nincluding protected attributes, of a person that create overlapping and\ninterdependent systems of disadvantage or discrimination.\npriority inclusion area—see section 9 (1).\nprotected attribute—see the Discrimination Act 1991, section 7.\npublic sector entity, for part 4 (Disability inclusion plans)—see\nsection 14.\nresponsible Minister, for a priority inclusion area—see section 9 (1).\n\nDictionary\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nresponsible person, for a public sector entity, for part 4 (Disability\ninclusion plans)—see section 14.\nsystemic advocacy group means a group that advocates for long-term\nsocial change to ensure the government’s legislation, policies and\npractices support the rights and interests of people with disability.\nuniversal design means the design of an environment that can be\naccessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all\npeople regardless of the nature of their attributes, including their age,\nsize, ability or disability.\n\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\npage 26 Disability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\nR1\n17/03/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR1\n17/03/25\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024\nEffective: 17/03/25\npage 27\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nDisability Inclusion Act 2024 A2024-44\nnotified LR 17 September 2024\ns 1, s 2 commenced 17 September 2024 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 17 March 2025 (s 2 and LA s 79)\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 89 (4)\nCertain existing strategies may be adopted as first disability inclusion\nstrategy\ns 12 exp 1 December 2035 (s 12 (3))\nReview of Act\ns 29 exp 17 March 2032 (s 29 (2))\nConsequential amendment\npt 7 hdg om LA s 89 (3)\nAnnual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004\ns 30 om LA s 89 (3)\n© Australian Capital Territory 2025","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's stated object is to foster disability inclusion through Territory strategies and public sector plans (s 5; ss 8–15). However, s 26 expressly disclaims creating legal rights and s 27 gives precedence to other territory laws. Those provisions narrow the Act’s practical scope: it primarily establishes planning, consultation and reporting duties rather than creating enforceable individual causes of action or new private remedies (see ss 5, 15, 26–27)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decision‑makers and roles: Chief Minister declares responsible Ministers; responsible Ministers prepare strategies; heads of public sector entities prepare plans (ss 9–11, 15).","Detailed mandatory consultation processes with diversity and accessibility requirements, increasing procedural burden (ss 11(1)–(3), 16(1)–(3)).","Cross‑references to external instruments and other laws (national disability strategy, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Human Rights Act, Discrimination Act) requiring alignment and interpretation (s 5(3); s 9(3); Sch 1).","Timebound instruments and review cycles: strategies expire after 10 years; plans reviewed at least every 5 years; statutory review of the Act after 5 years (s 10(3), s 15(5), s 29).","Reporting and publication obligations for Ministers and agencies, plus regulation‑making power that can add prescribed requirements (ss 13, 15(4), 18, 28).","Prescriptive composition and appointment rules for the Disability Advisory Council (representation, minimum numbers, terms, diversity requirements) which add governance complexity (ss 19–21).","Legal‑interpretation constraints: the Act expressly does not create legal rights and allows other territory laws to prevail, complicating enforceability and remedies (ss 26–27).","Transitional/adoptive mechanism allowing certain existing strategies to be adopted as first strategies, with expiry dates and an expiration of that section (s 12)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, the Act requires ACT Ministers to make 10‑year disability inclusion strategies for declared priority areas, requires heads of public sector entities to publish and review disability inclusion plans, establishes a Disability Advisory Council, and imposes annual reporting duties. It affects ACT Ministers, public sector agencies (which bear compliance and implementation costs), people with disability and advocacy groups who must be consulted. The Act creates planning, consultation and reporting obligations but does not create private legal rights (s26)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears consistent with its original intent as a framework for disability inclusion. It establishes strategies, plans, and an advisory council as originally contemplated. The transitional provision allowing adoption of existing strategies (s 12) is a pragmatic commencement mechanism rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (29 sections plus Schedule and Dictionary)","18 defined terms in the Dictionary, plus signpost definitions referencing other Acts (e.g., 'protected attribute—see Discrimination Act 1991')","Cross-references to multiple other ACT laws: Discrimination Act 1991, Carers Recognition Act 2021, Public Sector Management Act 1994, Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004, Human Rights Act 2004, Disability Services Act 1991, and Commonwealth National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013","Conditional logic in section 12 allowing adoption of existing strategies with modified expiry dates and exempted consultation requirements","Nested definitions: 'disability' is defined by reference to 'barrier to accessibility', which is itself defined","Temporal provisions with automatic expiry (section 12 expires 1 Dec 2035; section 29 expires 7 years after commencement)","Dual-layer structure: Territory-wide strategies (Part 3) plus agency-specific plans (Part 4) with interaction rules between them"],"plain_english_summary":"The Disability Inclusion Act 2024 is a framework law making the ACT government legally required to plan, act and report on disability inclusion. Ministers must produce long‑term strategies for priority areas and every agency must publish action plans informed by people with disability.\n\nIt also creates a Disability Advisory Council (majority people with disability) to advise government. The law turns inclusion from voluntary policy into mandatory, accountable practice across ACT public services."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024","history":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/disability-inclusion-act-2024/documents"}}