8Principles

8 Principles

(1)  The following principles, which reflect the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, are to be observed in the operation, administration and enforcement of this Act:

(a) people with disability have the same right as other members of Australian society to realise their potential for physical, social, emotional and intellectual development;

(b) people with disability have the right to participate in, and contribute to, social and economic life on an equal basis with others, and have the right to be supported to enjoy this right;

(c) people with disability and their families and carers have the right to certainty that people with disability will receive the care and support that they need over their lifetime;

(d) people with disability have the right to be supported to exercise choice, including in relation to taking reasonable risks, in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports;

(e) people with disability have the same right as other members of Australian society to be respected for their worth and dignity and to live free from violence, abuse, neglect, coercion and exploitation;

(f) people with disability have the same right as other members of Australian society to pursue any grievance;

(g) people with disability have the same right as other members of Australian society to be able to make their own decisions, including the right to exercise choice and control in decisions that affect their lives, to the full extent of their capacity;

(h) people with disability have the right to be supported in all their dealings and communications so that their capacity to exercise choice and control is maximised in a way that is appropriate to their circumstances and cultural needs;

(i) people with disability who require support in decision-making are to be provided with access to the support necessary to enable those persons –

(i) to participate in those decisions; and

(ii) to express their will and preferences in relation to those decisions; and

(iii) to develop their decision-making ability;