The Essential Services Commission has released its draft Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP). The draft DAIP outlines the Commission’s commitment to supporting an accessible and inclusive South Australia based on fairness and respect for all.

The Commission’s objective is to protect the long-term interests of all South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. However, the Commission acknowledge that, for many South Australian’s living with disability, there can be unique challenges in accessing these essential services and the consumer protections that the Commission provides.

The Commission seeks to understand these challenges through undertaking robust stakeholder engagement in regulatory processes to obtain a diverse range of information and views. The diversity of such information helps the Commission to develop regulatory frameworks that seek to provide equity of access and consumer protections for all South Australian consumers.

The draft DAIP has been prepared in accordance with, and in support of, the requirements of the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (DI Act), the Department of Human Services Inclusive SA: State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019 – 2023 (State Plan), the National Disability Strategy (NDS) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

For more information or to make a submission:  Submission on DAIP

Public consultation is open until 5.00pm on Wednesday 30 September 2020.