2024-07-08
Fighting for the NDIS, increasing concerns about Gaza and on the campaign trail
By Senator Jordon Steele-John
Across June we’ve been focusing on work across our portfolios of Disability Rights and Services, Foreign Affairs and Peace, and Health - and getting election ready!!
The government released its changes to the NDIS in April, and since then we’ve been fighting tooth and nail to work alongside the community and have the government scrap their proposed changes.
In case you missed it, in their budget Labor decided to cut $14.4 billion from the NDIS (that’s after cutting $54 billion the year before!!). The changes that are proposed in this legislation will enable those budget cuts, and advocates are fearful these changes will put thousands of disabled people in danger.
I held a series of online town halls, and have supported thousands of people to contact their local MP about the proposed changes. It’s disappointing that yet again we are faced with a government who are seeking to undermine the rights of disabled people.
I will continue working to ensure the bill does not pass in its current form and to save the NDIS. You can join our campaign email list, here: https://ausgreens.good.do/stopthendisbill/Email_NDISBill/
I have also connected with our disability community at a range of events this month, with highlights including attending and speaking at the Print Disability Conference, the National Youth Disability Summit and the OT Exchange 2024. All of these organisations are doing incredible work in the community to improve the lives of disabled people through increasing access to information and advocacy.
As the genocide in Palestine continues, our movement's persistence and protest actions become more and more important. I’m proud our movement has protested in the parliament, on university campuses, on picket lines and in Perth CBD. I continue to work directly with members of the Palestinian community here in Perth, and across the country. Our Greens team continues to call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the end of military trade with Israel, and sanctions on the State of Israel’s war cabinet. In the Parliament, we continue to take actions, including calling on the Government to formally recognise the State of Palestine. Labor and the Liberals continue to fail the community. We will continue to be in solidarity with Palestine until this conflict ends.
I’ve also been heading out on the campaign trail alongside our Federal Perth candidate Sophie Greer. The team and I have been having some great conversations across the electorate and it’s wonderful they have already knocked on thousands of doors. It’s exciting to see more of our State and Federal candidates are coming on board, I’m looking forward to working with you all to grow our Greens' presence in the WA and Federal Parliament.
On Health, a significant focus for me and the team has been the Tobacco and Other Products Bill. I was pleased that the Greens supported sending this bill to inquiry, you can view our additional comments here. The bill passed the Senate in the last sitting and you can read about the Greens role in passing the legislation here and here.
Speaking of Senate Inquiries; I am currently participating in the following inquiries:
● NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track) Bill 2024
● NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia
● NDIS General Issues - Annual Report No. 2 of the 47th Parliament
● Australian Support for Ukraine
● Wrongful detention of Australian Citizens Overseas
● Australia’s Sanctions Regime
● Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Region
Lastly, it was a pleasure to host our Community Celebration event on Saturday 29th June - it was excellent to take a moment to celebrate everything we have accomplished together over the last 6 years. I’d like to particularly thank the people who participated in our community panel discussion - Lorein Watts, Ali Hussain and Isabella Choate.
Header Photo: Senator Jordon Steele-John on a doorknocking campaign with Greens WA members/volunteers