Recommendation 5.6

The Australian Government should establish:

• a portfolio responsible for the disability and carers policies and programs currently the responsibility of the Social Services portfolio

• a ministerial position – the Minister for Disability Inclusion – responsible for disability inclusion strategy, policies and programs that are currently under the remit of the Minister for Social Services

• a Department of Disability Equality and Inclusion, responsible for the national disability and carers policies and programs that are currently the responsibility of the Department of Social Services.

People with disability should be recruited to positions within the new department, including into leadership positions.

These new arrangements should be established by the end of 2024.