A review of the state's Disability Services Act has been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to better safeguard the rights of Tasmanians with disability and improve service quality.
The government over the weekend released a discussion paper to prompt feedback for the review.
Disability Services Minister Sarah Courtney said the paper formed a crucial part of the consultation process.
"We know how important it is to hear from people with disability, families, carers, advocates, support providers, and the Tasmanian community and we invite ideas from the community on how we can best legislate to promote the health and wellbeing of people with disability and ensure quality services," she said.
"The review will ensure we have contemporary legislation that reflects changes made with the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and which meets our national and international commitments for people with disability."
Disability Voices Tasmania chairman Michael Small said there were 11,000 Tasmanians on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, another 16,000 with life-altering disabilities on the Disability Support Pension, and 80,000 others who have said a disability affects their lives.
He said the review process would hear from people with lived experience of disability.
"It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set Tasmania up for achieving better outcomes around inclusion, quality of services and safeguarding the rights of all Tasmanians with disability," Mr Small said.
Council on the Ageing chief executive Sue Leitch said while not a state issue, access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme for Tasmanians aged over 65 remained an issue.
"We will need to look at the consultation to see how that intersects with state policy," she said.
The Disability Services Act, which sets out rules for disability service providers to follow, was enacted in January 2012 - the year before the NDIS was established.
The paper states that due to the advent of the NDIS, the same rules for service providers aren't needed in the act anymore.
Due to the NDIS, disability support providers no longer receive funding directly from the state government.
The discussion paper is on the Communities Tasmania website or can be obtained by calling 1800 432 211.
Submissions to the review close on December 15.
This year's state budget for the first time contributed money towards a Tasmanian Disability Commissioner to advocate for people with disability and accept complaints. The office will receive $300,000 a year in funding over four years.
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Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
