2021-07-01
Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said it was outrageous that less than 1 in 5 disabled people, and our support workers, in phase 1a and 1b had been vaccinated, more than 4 months after the rollout begun.
Senator Steele-John said the Morrison government should have made a plan to vaccinate disabled people and disability support workers in April when it was revealed that less than 10 per cent had been vaccinated.
"I'm blown away by the contempt that the Morrison government has shown for disabled people, our families and the people who support us to live a good life since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
“Disabled people and carers were denied the COVID supplement back in March 2020 when many people’s costs were significantly increased due to quarantine, lock down and COVID restrictions.
"Then, the disability Royal Commission heard that the Morrison government hadn't included disabled people in their emergency response plan for COVID-19.
"Here we are, almost a year later, asking the same questions about why disabled people get treated differently to other at-risk members of the community with regards to the vaccine rollout.
"Scott Morrison and the Liberals should be ashamed; vaccinating disabled people and support workers needs to be made an urgent priority now."
Media Contacts:
STEELE-JOHN - Tim Oliver; 0448 316 387