Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has called for the aged care royal commission to be expanded to also encompass the abuse of people in disability care.

Key points: Jordon Steele-John says the royal commission into aged care should cover the broader disability sector as well

Jordon Steele-John says the royal commission into aged care should cover the broader disability sector as well The Government has said it would include young people with a disability living in nursing homes in the inquiry

The Government has said it would include young people with a disability living in nursing homes in the inquiry Labor wants a separate inquiry into the disability sector instead

As the first person with a disability to sit in the Upper House, Senator Steele-John said he often heard of horrific cases of abuse in the disability sector.

"We speak every day with each other about people who have died because of the neglect they have been subjected to," he said.

"I'm talking about being locked in rooms, I'm talking about being kicked, I'm talking about being spat at and restrained.

"These are unspeakable acts of cruelty."

The terms of reference for the aged care royal commission have not been finalised, but the Government has already made clear it will include young people with a disability living in nursing homes.

Senator Steele-John said that was not good enough and the inquiry should cover the broader disability sector too.

"The same factors which are leading to the horrendous abuse within the aged care system, the underpaying of staff, the lack of training, and fundamentally the culture, fundamentally this idea that older Australians and disabled people are not equal human beings and therefore can be treated differently," he said.

"These things are at work within the disability sector as well."

He said the two industries were inherently linked, and many people in aged care were also receiving disability care.

Senator Steele-John raised the issue in the Senate on Monday. ( ABC News: Luke Stephenson )

Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said broadening the scope of the royal commission could affect the quality of the investigation.

"By expanding it, you take the breadth beyond what the focus is on quality and safety of people within the aged care sector, both those living at home but those in residential care," he said.

"And you then start to diffuse the purpose for which it was established."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the royal commission would remain focused on aged care but noted that supporting people with disabilities was "a very high priority".

"The royal commission will be into residential aged care and it will cover those Australians living with a disability in residential aged care," Mr Morrison said.

"We are going to keep it focused.

"I think there will be implications for how care is provided to young people with disabilities that will come out of this royal commission.

"This a very high priority for me and that will be getting the strong attention of the Government."

Youngcare estimates more than 6,200 Australians under the age of 65 are living in residential aged care.

"This royal commission presents an opportunity to shape a national solution for young people with high-care needs," chief executive Anthony Ryan said.

"Youngcare believes every young Australian with high-care needs deserves to live in age-appropriate housing and lead a life of independence, dignity and choice."

Labor wants a separate inquiry for disability sector

Labor has taken a different approach to the Greens regarding the aged care inquiry.

While the Opposition agrees that the weight of a royal commission is needed to properly investigate the mistreatment of people with a disability, it wants a separate inquiry.

"I've met with many disability organisations and people with a disability who have experienced violence and abuse," said Labor's disability and carers spokeswoman, Carol Brown.

"They want a royal commission that will look entirely into their issues and come up with recommendations so these types of issues don't occur again."

Senator Brown said if Labor won the upcoming federal election, it would get to work on establishing that inquiry immediately.

"I would envisage that the terms of reference would start to be worked on nearly straight away," she said.

'Acknowledge the shared horror of my people': Steele-John

Senator Steele-John asked about the possibility of an expanded royal commission during Question Time yesterday, but Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann brushed it aside.

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"Why won't the Prime Minister acknowledge the shared horror of the experience of disabled people, my people, and older Australians, and broaden the proposed commission's terms of reference to include them?" Senator Steele-John asked.

"Given the widespread violence, neglect and abuse of disabled people, that is ongoing, why does this urgently needed royal commission not extend to disabled people?

"Why is the PM willing to sweep the violence, abuse and neglect of thousands of disabled Australians under the rug by not broadening the terms of reference of this commission?

"The time for justice is now."

Senator Cormann responded:

"The terms of reference of the royal commission … will be identified through consultation with the community and aged care providers.

"There have already been multiple inquiries looking into abuse of people with a disability at federal and state levels which have clearly identified the issues."

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