*** CONTENT WARNING ***

This thread has descriptions of the abuse, neglect and death of a disabled woman.

Disability royal commission expert witness left woman lying on the ground for 30 hours before death, senate committee told https://www.sbs.com.au/news/disability-royal-commission-expert-witness-left-woman-lying-on-the-ground-for-30-hours-before-death-senate-committee-told?cid=news:socialshare:twitter via @SBSNews

I won’t go into the details here but, the coronial inquest into the death of Ms Lena Divola can be read here: https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/lenadivola_002808.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2TkP2eTpfkaf52QHM5n3TX1nO5uOfTVhIOf-GAUQ1jI1LaSBISj7nnK1w

Again, a content warning for this one.

Last night in @AuSenate #Estimates I asked the @DRC_AU secretary Mr Paul Cronan how such a serious incident had been overlooked when choosing Mr Simon Wardale - the individual involved - as an expert witness.

Mr Cronan responded that it was not appropriatefor him to comment on the “the substance of the Royal Commission’s work”

So I asked a simple question - what is the Royal Commission’s vetting process for witnesses?

Again, Mr Cronan was not able to answer #estimates #auspol

Simon Wardale gave evidence and expertise at @DRC_AU on how to better understand and prevent incidents involving “challenging behaviour” and restrictive practices.

It can be read here: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/exhibit-6-18-stat016700010001-statement-simon-wardale?fbclid=IwAR1Xs89jQWVfoE5kzhb9BOL6UHhu3UhpyJON8SLuXA7hDTFeaI833dajr-0

How is it that someone involved in the death of an individual ends up giving expert testimony on how to prevent and understand the same type of incident? Expert testimony that could be used to inform the recommendations of this historic Royal Commission? It’s simply astonishing.

Disabled people have the right to feel safe when telling their stories and sharing their experiences with the Disability Royal Commission. That trust is eroded when perpetrators are called to give evidence as expert witnesses.