Inclusive rhetoric, exclusive reality. A critical discourse analysis on government responses to the Australian disability royal commission recommendations

Alison L Hilton EdD; Dr Kirsten Lambert (PhD)

doi:10.1080/01596306.2025.2553759

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Inclusive rhetoric, exclusive reality. A critical discourse analysis on government responses to the Australian disability royal commission recommendations

Journal article

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Inclusive rhetoric, exclusive reality. A critical discourse analysis on government responses to the Australian disability royal commission recommendations

Alison L Hilton EdD and Dr Kirsten Lambert (PhD)

Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2025.2553759

Appears in Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements

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Abstract

inclusive education

disability education

education policy

critical discourse analysis

Royal commissions are powerful symbols of truth-telling, underpinned by restorative justice, aiming to address historic mishandling by giving voice to survivors of prejudice, abuse, and institutional injustice. The Australian Federal Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (2019–2023) exposed routine violence, abuse, and exploitation of people with disability. The Commission made recommendations to federal and state governments in Australia that, if accepted and implemented, will bring about far-reaching changes. Previous royal commissions resulted in high acceptance rates: 79% for Aged Care and 85% for Child Sexual Abuse. However, the response to the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) has been disappointing, with only 8% of recommendations accepted. This paper focuses on government responses to DRC recommendations related to Volume 7: Part A: Inclusive Education, using critical discourse analysis to highlight how empty language promotes inclusivity whilst maintaining ableist cultural hegemony and normative policies.

Details

Title: Inclusive rhetoric, exclusive reality. A critical discourse analysis on government responses to the Australian disability royal commission recommendations
Authors/Creators: Alison L Hilton EdD (Corresponding Author) - Murdoch University, School of Education
Dr Kirsten Lambert (PhD) (Author) - Murdoch University, School of Education
Publication Details: Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education
Publisher: Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Identifiers: 991005810149907891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Education
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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