Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is a royal commission established on 4 April 2019 by the Australian government pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902. The Honourable Ronald Sackville , who serves as Chair of the Royal Commission, The Honourable Roslyn Atkinson , Ms Barbara Bennett , Dr Rhonda Galbally , Ms Andrea Mason , Mr Alastair McEwin , and The Honourable John Ryan currently serve as Royal Commissioners. The Commissioners are required to provide an interim report by 30 October 2020, and a final report  by 29 April 2022. At the time of its establishment, information about the Royal Commission was issued in AUSLAN and in easy read formats. Terms of reference. On 4 April 2019, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General The Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove (Ret'd) issued Commonwealth letters patent appointing The Hon. Ronald Sackville, Ms Barbara Bennett, Dr Rhonda Galbally, Ms Andrea Mason, Mr Alastair McEwin and The Hon. John Ryan as Commissioners and detailing the Commission's terms of reference. The Commissioners were appointed to be a Commission of inquiry, and required and authorised to inquire into the  following matters: The Commissioners were directed to make any recommendations arising out of their inquiry that they consider appropriate, including recommendations about any policy, legislative, administrative or structural reforms. The Commissioners, without limiting the scope of their inquiry or the scope of any recommendations arising out of their inquiry that they may consider appropriate, were also directed to, for the purposes of their inquiry and recommendations, to have regard to the following matters: Where appropriate, the Commissioners were directed to not inquire into matters that lie within the scope of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Commissioners  and executive. On 4 April 2019 the government appointed The Hon. Ronald Sackville, Ms Barbara Bennett, Dr Rhonda Galbally, Ms Andrea Mason, Mr Alastair McEwin and The Hon. John Ryan as commissioners to the royal commission. On 13 September 2019 the government appointed The Hon. Roslyn Atkinson as a seventh Commissioner. Powers. The powers of Royal Commissions in Australia are set out in the enabling legislation, the . The "Royal Commissions Amendment Act 2013" (Cth) was approved by Parliament to give the Child Abuse Royal Commission additional powers to fulfil its Terms of Reference. Notable changes were: Royal Commissions, appointed pursuant  to the "Royal Commissions Act" or otherwise, have powers to issue a summons to a person to appear before the Commission at a hearing to give evidence or to produce documents specified in the summons; require witnesses to take an oath or give an affirmation; and require a person to deliver documents to the Commission at a specified place and time. A person served with a summons or a notice to produce documents must comply with that requirement, or face prosecution for an offence. The penalty for conviction upon such an offence is a fine of or six months imprisonment . A Royal Commission may authorise the Australian Federal Police to execute search warrants. Reports. The federal government requested that the Commissioners provide an interim report by 30 October 2020, and a final report by 29 April 2022.