Treatment of people with disabilities in Victoria exposed

Shadow Minister for Education, Nick Wakeling

Last night’s 7.30 Report exposed the cruel abuse people with disabilities are suffering in Melbourne schools and disability services.

According to the report, at Aspect Heatherton, people with autism who have high needs were routinely left in their own urine, had their medication withheld, and were even physically grabbed and locked in a box called “the coffin”.

Similar reports at the Merriang Special Developmental School reveal a teenager spent the whole of term three and several weeks of term four locked outside on a bean bag all day in the cold and without supervision.

After revealing the shameful practices being used, the whistleblower was fired and the investigation covered up, until it was brought to the attention of the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into abuse in disability services.

Quotes attributable to the Shadow Minister for Education, Nick Wakeling:

Every Victorian student and teacher has the right to feel safe and supported at school.

Daniel Andrews and his education minister James Merlino have totally failed to protect children with disabilities.
Daniel Andrews is too busy worrying about his job to worry about the inhumane treatment of people with disabilities.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bernie Finn:
This is outrageous and intolerable.
Minister Merlino should TODAY order a full independent inquiry into these allegations.
If they are true, those responsible should never be allowed to work with children again.

Media contact:  Hannah Pandel   0409 234 530   hannah.pandel@opposition.vic.gov.au