A measly $1 million! Why do consecutive governments continue to neglect proper funding for people with disability and hinder actual inclusion?

Today in Budget Estimates, Abigail confronted the NSW Treasurer over the disgraceful lack of new funding for the disability sector in the recent State Budget.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Treasurer, we were talking earlier about my concerns with this budget having very little for people with disability in our State. In fact, I think there was that $1 million in extra taxi subsidy that we could find and that was about it. Did people in Cabinet not come and actually ask for money for people with disability or was it rejected?

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (NSW Treasurer): ... I would make the point, when it comes to disability, there are other initiatives I would point to. Firstly, the refuelling of the budget available for the Transport Access Program is one example. Another example, of course, is the provision of additional assistance in our education system for kids who have a disability.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Sorry, can we go back to that first one? The Transport Access Program is the one that people with disability are a bit frustrated with because it has been over 20 years since we signed up to the Federal agreement to make all of our transport accessible. This was merged with the car park program, I understand, and now it's very unclear for us to see what exactly is—

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: My best recollection is that the TAP is still a program. It's in isolation and we continue to fund it. I'll happily come back to you on detail on that.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Was there an increase in funding?

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: Certainly in the last budget, yes. Let me check the details, but I'm fairly positive, from memory, that this is one of those projects that was slated to be on a fiscal cliff. We were happy to be in a position to provide it with additional resources. But I accept this it's a very important program that has led to people having more access to public transport. To be fair to the Transport Access Program, it should be a continuous program. It should be going for 20 years. It should be going for more than 20 years.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: No, but it didn't get started for at least 20 years. I understand that you weren't in—

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: I've only been in Treasury for 15 months.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I know. We did have a Labor Government in some of that time, and they didn't do anything either.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: Ms Boyd, maintain your rage, as one Labor leader put it. I would make the point that, well and truly, I think you and I both agree how important that program is. Let me see if I can get you additional information about disability communities in the budget. We'll see if we can track down a more specific list of information for you on that.

29 August 2024

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

3,000 signatures

Will you sign?

First Name

Last Name

Mobile phone

Home Phone

Address (Street, Suburb, State, Postcode)

Country

Join with Facebook

Join with Twitter

A measly $1 million! Why do consecutive governments continue to neglect proper funding for people with disability and hinder actual inclusion?

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

Will you sign?

Join the Campaign

Join 50,533 other supporters in taking action