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An estimated 1.1 million Australians with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, according to a new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report.
The bureau’s head of crime statistics, William Milne, said: “[The report] shows 18 per cent of people with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, compared with 13 per cent of people without disability.”
Card fraud, scam, identity theft and online impersonation are all types of personal fraud that people with disability are more likely to experience.
“We found 67 per cent of people with disability who experienced card fraud got a full refund from their card issuer. This was lower than for people without disability, where 75 per cent received a full reimbursement.”
In addition to fraud, people with disability over the age of 15 were also more likely to experience all types of assault included in the report.
The stark reality of violence against individuals with disabilities continues to be a pressing issue. Recent statistics reveal that 5.5 percent of people with disabilities have endured physical or threatened assault. This figure stands in sharp contrast to the 2.8 percent reported among those without disabilities, highlighting a significant disparity that demands attention.
“We found 64 per cent of people with disability who experienced physical assault knew the perpetrator, compared with 50 per cent of people without disability,” Milne said.
“Of people with disability who experienced physical assault, half of them reported that the assault occurred at a residential location, compared with just under a quarter of people without disability.”
Additionally, 15 per cent experienced high-severity physical abuse, which includes being beaten, choked, stabbed or shot, while 48 per cent were restrained or handled roughly.
In September 2023, the federal government released the findings of the $600 million Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
The final report contained 222 recommendations, which included enacting a Disability Rights Act to prevent people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in the first place.
In light of these concerning figures, the government took a pivotal step in August by announcing a comprehensive review of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This initiative aims to address the challenges faced by the disabled community and ensure their protection and rights are adequately upheld.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said: “The review is one important aspect of our response to the Disability Royal Commission, ensuring Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation remains fit-for-purpose.”
Advocacy networks and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) have welcomed the review.
AHRC disability discrimination commissioner Rosemary Kayess said: “The DDA hasn’t been updated for over 15 years. Much has changed over that time, including court rulings which have made it harder to prove discrimination under the DDA.
“We need to modernise the DDA to ensure it’s fit for purpose now and into the future.”
If you or someone you know is in need or crisis, call the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline on 1800 880 052, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, or Lifeline on 131 114. In an emergency, call 000.
