Labor promises disability violence inquiry

Labor has called on the federal government to establish a royal commission into the abuse of people with a disability.

Labor has called for a royal commission into violence and abuse against people with a disability. (AAP)

Disability groups have joined a Labor push for a royal commission into violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability, which they say is Australia's hidden shame.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has committed Labor to establishing a royal commission if it wins government after the next federal election.

But like the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, he wants the Turnbull government to act now.

"The countless harrowing accounts of people with disability being abused and assaulted cannot be ignored," Mr Shorten said in a statement on Friday.

"We need a royal commission to bring about systemic change to ensure that this horrific abuse never happens again."

Federation CEO Ross Joyce says the many instances of abuse are not known to the Australian public.

"They remain our national hidden shame," he said.

"What we need to do now is bring those stories to light - and then commit ourselves to doing whatever we can to make sure it never happens again."