Disability inquiry participants protected

Legal protections are being introduced to protect the privacy of participants in the disability royal commission.

The extra measures come on top of existing mechanisms including the use of private sessions, pseudonyms and non-publication orders.

Attorney-General Christian Porter is hopeful the changes, which were requested by the chair of the royal commission, will give people with disabilities and their supporters the confidence to give evidence.

Mr Porter plans to introduce the amendments to federal parliament early next year.

“We want people in the community to engage fully with the royal commission,” he said on Tuesday.

“The amendments will ensure that the work of this royal commission is guided by people’s experiences and that its outcomes are based on a true reflection of those experiences.”

Concerns have been raised about the protection of information both during the inquiry and after it has concluded.

The royal commission is due to present an interim report to the governor-general later this month before publishing a final report in April 2022.