The Greens demand a dedicated Minister for Disability

Today in Budget Estimates, NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the Government's shortcomings in addressing the needs of the disability sector. Will he back his words with action and ensure the needs of the disability community are prioritised?

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Can we talk about accessible housing? Why is it that the New South Wales Government is the only government bar one in the entire country that won't provide accessible housing in terms of minimum accessibility requirements under the National Construction Code? Every other State and Territory is able to do that but we have no guarantee of accessible housing in New South Wales. Why is that?

Mr CHRIS MINNS: Is this accessible housing for disabled citizens?

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: And older people and anyone who wants to live in their home for a longer period of time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: That's a fair question. I'll have to take it on notice and come back to you.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Thank you. Given the continuous failures of the previous Government, which we are now also seeing, unfortunately, under this Government, to provide adequately for people in disability in policy—I point also to the schools statement that came out that didn't even mention children with disability—is it not time now to have a separate Minister for disability in your Cabinet?

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I'd have to take that on notice. We have a colleague of ours, Liesl Tesch—

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: A fabulous person.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: —who's a fabulous person and a Parliamentary Secretary. I think if she was giving evidence to the Committee, she would say in all candour that Government needs to do more, to be honest. I take her criticisms, feedback—however you want to put it—very seriously. I know that it cannot be the case that this becomes a second-order issue or falls off the Government's busy agenda. I take what you say very seriously. I can assure you that at the highest levels of government we've got a passionate advocate who's demanding more.

Read the full transcript here.

21 February 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

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The Greens demand a dedicated Minister for Disability

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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