2024-03-08
Overshadowed by Gaza but continuing the battle to improve NDIS outcomes and get dental and mental health into Medicare
By Senator Jordon Steele-John
The year has been off to a big start across my portfolios of health, disability, foreign affairs, peace and nuclear disarmament.
A priority for me and the team has been continuing to do all we can to get the Australian Government to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to military exports to the State of Israel and an end to the occupation in Palestine.
It’s been great to see the turnout at the Perth rallies continue and I was privileged to speak at the Palestine rally on the lawns of the Australian Parliament House (header photo). Inside Parliament, I have hosted members of the Palestinian community for a briefing, and our collective Greens team continues to move motions and make speeches raising the voices of the people of Palestine.
In the February sitting weeks, the Stage 3 Tax Cuts was a key debate. The government rejected our Greens amendments that supported an increase in social support payments, and expansion of Medicare to get mental health and dental health covered. You can view my speech on the stage three tax cuts, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtAJCiwYOTo
With the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission Report released, we expect significant changes to disability services and supports in 2024. The team and I have been gearing up for the upcoming legislative changes. I’ve continued to ask the tough questions at estimates about the government’s intentions for changes to the NDIS, and I will continue to fight to ensure disabled people get the support they need. You can view some of my work at estimates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZxYiM6oUUSgOy9tJA-G7Q
Before Parliament recommenced for the year it was fabulous to get down to Margaret River to the Forrest-O’Connor unofficial campaign launch event. A huge thank you to everyone who organised the event, it was great to spend the day with committed campaigners as we gear up for the next elections.
With a Federal Parliamentary Sitting for 3 of 4 weeks in February, I’ve been making the most of my week in Perth ‒ I held a pop-up office at the Brisbane Hotel in Northbridge, and it was great to attend UWA and Curtin O’Days. Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend the RACGP Future of General Practice event over at UWA and the Hyde Park Festival.
I am looking forward to catching up with everyone soon.