Final Ceremonial Sitting

The Disability Royal Commission held the Ceremonial Closing Sitting in the lead up to delivering its Final report to the Governor-General by 29 September 2023. In its Final report, the Royal Commission will make recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

All DRC Commissioners were in attendance: the Chair of the Royal Commission, the Hon Ronald Sackville AO KC, Ms Barbara Bennett PSM, Dr Rhonda Galbally AC, Ms Andrea Mason OAM, Dr Alastair McEwin AM and the Hon John Ryan AM.

At this Ceremonial Closing Sitting there were no appearances, evidence or testimony given. The Sitting was shorter than our previous hearings and lasted approximately two hours.

The venue and sitting room had the following accessibility features:

• Wheelchair accessibility

• Large TV screens for visual assistance

• Rest area for assistance animals

• Quiet zone / sensory chill out space

• Assistance aids such as foot stools

Auslan Interpreters and Live Captioning were provided during the sitting.

We warmly welcomed people with disability to attend. We also welcomed the families and carers of people with disability, peak bodies and advocates, disability service providers and relevant government agencies to also attend. The hearing was also open to all people in the community.

There was counselling and support available.

The public sitting was ceremonial. The Royal Commission has closed registrations for private sessions and submissions, and is no longer able to accept information or materials from attendees or the public. Final report recommendations or findings were not discussed during the public sitting and will not be available until the Final report is delivered to the Australian Government.