Part 5Disability access and inclusion plans

Part 5—Disability access and inclusion plans 16—Disability access and inclusion plans (1) There is to be a disability access and inclusion plan for each State authority. (2) A disability access and inclusion plan is to be prepared by the relevant State authority in accordance with this section. (3) A disability access and inclusion plan— (a) must set out the measures that the State authority intends to put in place to ensure that people with disability can access the mainstream supports and services provided by or on behalf of the State authority; and (b) must explain how the State authority proposes to give effect to the objects and principles set out in Part 2; and (c) must explain how the State authority proposes to give effect to the State Disability Inclusion Plan; and (d) must include strategies, accompanied by measurable outcomes where appropriate, to support people with disability in the following areas: (i) access to built environs, events and facilities; (ii) access to information and communications; (iii) addressing the specific needs of people with disability in its programs and services; (iv) employment; and (da) must include strategies to ensure that the needs of persons referred to in section 9(2), (3), (4), (5), (5a), (5b) and (5c) are properly addressed by the disability access and inclusion plan; and (e) must contain such other provisions as may be required by the guidelines published under section 12(1)(a) or the regulations. (4) Subject to this section, in preparing a disability access and inclusion plan, a State authority— (a) must comply with the guidelines published under section 12(1)(a); and (b) must, in accordance with any requirements set out in the regulations, consult with people with disability and persons or bodies representing the interests of people with disability (and may consult with any other persons or bodies that the State authority thinks fit); and (c) must call for submissions from members of the public in accordance with the scheme set out in the regulations (and must have regard to the submissions made in response to the call); and (ca) must ensure that any documents prepared for the purposes of paragraph (b) are in a form that is accessible to people with disability; and (d) must comply with any other requirements prescribed by the regulations. (5) Despite a preceding subsection, a local council may, with the approval of the Minister and in accordance with any requirements set out in the regulations, prepare a single disability access and inclusion plan to be the disability access and inclusion plan for— (a) that local council; and (b) 1 or more specified local councils, (and the plan will, for the purposes of this Act, be taken to be the disability access and inclusion plan for each such council). (6) A State authority may vary its disability access and inclusion plan at any time in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the regulations. (7) A State authority must publish (in a format that is accessible to people with disability) its disability access and inclusion plan, and any variation of the plan, on a website determined by the State authority. 17—Annual report on operation of disability access and inclusion plan (1) Each State authority must, on or before 30 April in each year, report to the Chief Executive on the operation of its disability access and inclusion plan during the preceding calendar year (including a summary of the extent to which the disability access and inclusion plan has been implemented by the State authority). (1a) A report under subsection (1) must include details of how the State authority is addressing the risks and principles relating to the persons referred to in section 9(2), (3), (4), (5), (5a), (5b) and (5c), by reference to the provisions in the State Disability Inclusion Plan and the State authority's disability access and inclusion plan relating to those persons. (2) The Chief Executive must, on or before 30 June in each year, provide to the Minister a report summarising the reports received under subsection (1) in respect of the preceding calendar year. (3) A report under subsection (2) may be combined with a report under section 14(1). (4) The Minister must, within 6 sitting days after receiving a report from the Chief Executive under subsection (2), have copies of the report laid before both Houses of Parliament (and, if the report is combined with a report under section 14(1), then the requirement of this subsection will be satisfied on the report being laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with that section). 18—Review of disability access and inclusion plans (1) A State authority must cause a review of its disability access and inclusion plan to be undertaken at least once in each 4 year period, and a report on the review to be prepared and submitted to the State authority. (2) The State authority must cause a copy of the report submitted under subsection (1) to be provided to the Minister as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the report. (3) If the State Disability Inclusion Plan is varied, a State authority must, within 6 months of the publication of the plan as varied in the Gazette— (a) review the State authority's disability access and inclusion plan to ensure it is consistent with the State Disability Inclusion Plan; and (b) if the State authority's disability access and inclusion plan is not consistent with the State Disability Inclusion Plan— (i) vary the State authority's disability access and inclusion plan to such extent as is necessary to ensure consistency with the State Disability Inclusion Plan; and (ii) publish the varied disability access and inclusion plan as required by section 16(7).