2025-01-16
The Australian Greens see the appointment of a new Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme as a missed opportunity to implement a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Disabled People.
Lines attributable to Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services:
"From the cost of housing to groceries to healthcare - disabled people, our families, and support workers are being pushed to the brink right now. We need cross-government action to urgently improve the lives of disabled people across the country.
"One way to achieve this urgent action would have been to implement a recommendation of the Disability Royal Commission to appoint a Minister for Disability Inclusion, not just a Minister for the NDIS. It’s disappointing that the government has failed to implement yet another recommendation of the Disability Royal Commission.
"A Minister for Disability Inclusion would be responsible for improving the lives of all disabled Australians - not just those who are eligible for the NDIS. A Minister for Disability Inclusion would enable us to have the cross-government action we need to improve the lives of disabled people across all areas of life - like education, healthcare, public transport - just to name a few.
"Ideally, Australia would have a Minister with lived experience of disability. I hope that the new Minister will publicly commit to undertaking training, including disability awareness training.
"The Australian Greens recently announced our disability leadership plan. This plan would get more disabled people into our Federal Parliament - this includes the establishment of a $5m Election Access Fund to support disabled people to inclusively contest Federal Elections. It’s only through these proactive measures that we will one day get a Minister for Disability with lived experience as a disabled person."