Decision to postpone public hearing 15 until August 2021 due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns

The Disability Royal Commission has decided that public hearing 15, scheduled to take place in Brisbane on 23 and 24 June, will be postponed until August 2021.

This follows advice from NSW Health that at least one person in the building where the DRC’s Sydney office is located has tested positive for COVID-19. Sydney-based Commissioners and staff who were in the building on 15-16 June have been required to be tested for COVID-19 and to isolate until their results are known. This is unlikely to be before Tuesday 22 June at the earliest. 

While the Royal Commission regrets the need to postpone the hearing to a later date in August, it is considered the most practical and prudent course considering the NSW Health advice and the health, well-being and safety of Commissioners, DRC staff, witnesses appearing at the public hearing and members of the public.

The fifteenth public hearing of the Disability Royal Commission will provide another opportunity for the examination of the experiences of people with cognitive disability within the criminal justice system, particularly when interacting with the National Disability Insurance Scheme to seek services and supports.

Please monitor our website for further information regarding the rescheduling of public hearing 15.

For more information contact the Disability Royal Commission media team on 0436 841 166 or DRCmedia@royalcommission.gov.au