WHERE'S THE GOOD NEWS ON DISABILITY?

When I read the paper I see on page 3,...

"A soaring Australian dollar, coupled with income gains due to the mining boom and the world's appetite for iron ore and coal, was behind a strong rise in Australia's net worth over the 18 months to June 2011.The report showed Australia's median net worth of $US221,704 was the highest in the world."

Then scrolling down the news for Disability in Australia.....

"Disability services in South Australia are unsustainable and disabled people, their families and their carers cannot wait years for real change."

"Australia's disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes is calling for national reform of laws that he says discriminate against the intellectually disabled....."

"FUNDING must be directed to the disability sector "within one Budget cycle" to address critical risks." 

"Plans for a national disability insurance scheme are being fast-tracked so it can be launched a year ahead of time, a Senate hearing has been told."

It is very contradictory isn't it. On one hand we have reports stating that Australia has a high "net worth," But somehow Australia cannot support it's disabled population, education or Medical and Mental health sectors....!

Here is the latest on the NDIS and Disability front, from the Sydney Morning Herald.

From personal experience.... Minister Jenny Macklin, will only regurge information from a policy.... one minister not to be trusted!

Govt 'cheeky' on funding announcement

October 20, 2011 - 11:14AM

AAP

Money earmarked for establishing a national disability insurance scheme may be taken away from other federal community services programs, a Senate hearing has been told.

The Gillard's government's announcement of $10 million for technical policy work had given a "misleading" impression that the investment was all new money, Liberal senator Mitch Fifield said.

"The way it was phrased was a little cheeky," he told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday.

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"It might have been better to say there has been an allocation of $10 million."

The national disability insurance scheme will provide long-term care and support to anyone who acquires a significant disability.

The Productivity Commission recommended setting up the insurance scheme earlier this year.

It is estimated the scheme would come with a annual price tag of about $14 billion.

Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert asked Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) officials whether the initial investment was "coming at the expense of other services" which could potentially disadvantage disabled people.

The department's deputy secretary Serena Wilson denied that was the case, but was unable to give further information about from where the money was being relocated, saying it had not been finalised.

"It's additional for this task," Ms Wilson said.

"But at the same time the government is managing a tight fiscal strategy with budget rules that require the identification of savings and offsets to support new investment."

The department had tried to protect existing services, Ms Wilson said.

Minister Jenny Macklin announced earlier this week that the scheme would be fast tracked by a year to begin in 2013.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/govt-cheeky-on-funding-announcement-20111020-1m948.html


I can tell you now.... if the Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) officials... including Macklin, are going to be in control of any NDIS funding initiatives... the future will not look very bright for all of those living with disabilities. This same department was in charge of the HCWA ( Helping Children With Autism Funding) and that was a disastrous nightmare. Most families including myself took their fight to Canberra, only to have Bill Shorten, the condescending voice who represented disability at the time.... to back down to the parents demands for equality!