Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt has encouraged people with disabilities, their families, carers and service providers to attend DisabiliTEA functions which will be held around Australia tomorrow as part of the nationwide ‘Every Australian Counts’ campaign.
Every Australian Counts is a campaign for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to better support Australians with a disability, their carers and their families.
Mr Pitt said he was proud to support the DisabiliTEA initiative.
“These DisabiliTEAs are an effective way to draw attention to the proposals for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme,” he said.
“It is of national importance that the long-term needs of people with a disability, their families and carers are comprehensively supported.
“I am extremely disappointed that last week during a Budget Estimates hearing, Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis refused to commit funding to the NDIS.
“We have already heard the Minister say the funding of an NDIS was ‘not one of my priorities’ but now she has gone one step further and refused to commit any funding for a trial site in Queensland.
“This shows the twisted priorities of this LNP Government which will spend $260,000 a year on charter flights for the Deputy Premier and can find $3.5 million for the planning of the new Executive Building for the Premier and Ministers, but will not provide funding for some of the most vulnerable Queenslanders and their carers to fund a NDIS trial site in Queensland.
“As the former Minister for Disability Services I know many Queenslanders will be disappointed at such a cold-hearted approach from the Newman Government.
“Other state leaders – most from the conservative side of politics – recognise an NDIS trial is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people with a disability, and the lives of their families and carers,” Mr Pitt said.
On Friday 26 October, DisabiliTEA events in FNQ organised by the Every Australian Counts campaign are being held at:
- Endeavour Cairns, 76B Sheridan Street.
- Endeavour DisabiliTEA, Learning and Lifestyle Centre, Warner Street, Cairns.
- Expo 2012 Cairns Colonial Club Lockhart Rooms, Behan Street.
- Endeavour Woree, 622 Bruce Highway.
- Woree State High School Special Education Unit, Rigg Street.
- Endeavour Shop Gordonvale 58 Norman Street.
People with a disability, their families and carers can find information on government supports and services at www.qld.gov.au/disability
Recent Comments