Disability and carers forum in Kooyong, they need a fair go

I attended a forum held in Hawthorn Town Hall by the Australian Association for Families of Children with a Disability (AAFCD). Greens Senator Rachel Siewert spoke along with Annette Ellis MP (ALP), Minister for Family & Community Services Mal Brough (Liberal Party), Senator Lynn Allison (Democrats) and Junelle Rhodes (Carers Alliance party).

It was a great opportunity to hear from people who are making huge comitments and efforts caring for disabled people, and from disabled people too. It was evident that resources and funding for both carers and disabled people are far too low.

Rachel, elected in 2004, has an enviable track record both chairing and working on numerous Senate committees. Rachel played an active role in the Disabilities CSTDA Inquiry in Feb 2007 and contributed to the recommendations in the report. Rachel also has good relationships with a range of disabilities groups and community and is co-convenor and founder of the Parliamentary Friends of People with a Disability. Rachel also has national responsibility in the Australian Greens for the disabilities portfolio.

Rachel stated in answer to a question that the Greens recognise that funding for people living with a disability and their carers is urgently needed and that neither the Government nor the ALP would commit to increasing funding to the level needed. Yet both are offering a massive $34 billion tax package - tax cuts which could fund community services and resources.

Michael Gourlay, the CEO of AAFCD joked that when he heard about the $34 billion tax cuts he thought about calling John Howard and asking for about $4 billion.

Unfortunately the Commonwealth and the States (and Territories) process (CSTDA) that is supposed to be managing the framework and funding for people with disabilities has been has been marred by a continuing blame-game between the Commonwealth and the States (and Territories).

In this very meeting, Mal Brough attempted to shift the blame for lack of progress on provision of much-needed disabilities services onto the States.

On the other side, Labor hasn’t even bothered releasing a policy yet. It’s clear that carers and the disabled are being ignored by both major parties, and are being forced into a great mobilisation towards democracy.

The Australian Greens continue to:

• advocate for giving people living with a disability, their families and carers a greater opportunity to actively participate in policy development, service planning and delivery.
• support whole of life planning covering activities and services that should be accessible to children, adolescents and adults with a disability
• increasing funding for supporting people with a disability and their carers
• stopping the "race to the bottom" where only the person with the worst case wins funding

You can read Rachel's full report on the forum on the Greensblog here.