It is my great honour as the Minister for Disability Issues to present to the House of Representatives the second government report on implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

The launch of the Strategy in April 2001 by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark and the former Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Lianne Dalziel, fulfilled a key Labour-Alliance pre-election promise and marked a turning point in the relationship between the Government and people with disabilities.

It is important not to lose sight of what the Strategy's vision is about. The Strategy's vision is of a society based on the human rights, empowerment and participation of all New Zealanders and of a society that values and celebrates diversity and recognises the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Its primary focus is on what government departments and other publicly funded organisations need to do to remove the barriers that face people with disabilities.

As I said in my first report, the Strategy gives us a national framework to address disability issues across agencies, policies, services and legislation. The Strategy's 15 objectives and 113 detailed actions continue to influence government action to promote a more inclusive society. This report continues to measure our progress against the 2001/2002 implementation plans of ten key government departments, covering projects from 1 October 2001 to 30 June 2002.

This report notes a higher level of participation of people with disabilities on various advisory and reference groups and I am encouraged by this. The report also indicates increased consultation between the disability sector and the Government on policy matters that affect people with disabilities. Nevertheless, further work by all departments to continue to improve consultation with the disability sector should occur. Input from people with disabilities is pivotal, as it will contribute to the development of better policies which will enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities in the future.

A comprehensive evaluation framework and a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the Strategy have now to be developed by the Office for Disability Issues. These will help ensure that future reports can provide an account of outcomes as well as inputs. The Office is also to examine timeframes for reporting, to help overcome the problem of work commencing after an implementation plan has been published and being completed before the plan has been reported on. Overall, the Office will work with departments to develop a more measurable implementation plan and a report structure which will not be arduous for departments to work with.

Future annual reports to Parliament will be more comprehensive, monitoring the progress of government departments over a full year. I am very keen to see changes occur in the style of the implementation plans and reporting process to show how the implementation of the Strategy has changed the lives of people with disabilities. The Government's overall progress in implementing the Strategy will be evaluated after five years and ten years with the first major evaluation occurring in 2005.

Again, I want to acknowledge the leadership and commitment of the national advocacy organisation DPA (the Assembly of People with Disabilities) and thank their National President, Bill Wrightson, for DPA's message of support.

The New Zealand Disability Strategy is a powerful tool for change. I congratulate all those who have contributed to the progress already made, and I am confident that, together, we will continue to build a better society that values all its citizens and encourages their full participation.

Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for Disability Issues