Budget Call - Don’t Forget The NDIS
8 May 2012 at 11:34 am
Every Australian Counts campaigners say the budget is a once in a generation opportunity to fix the crisis in disability support by funding the launch of the NDIS.
John Della Bosca National Campaign Director said “No Australians will be more focussed on tonight’s budget than the disability community.
“Currently half the Australians who need disability support miss out. If the disability system was a hospital it would turn half the patients away at the door. The system is a national disgrace and funding the NDIS is the solution”.
The Every Australian Counts campaign will mark tonight’s budget by launching three new messages that are designed to explain the desperate need for an NDIS to all Australians.
Organisers says that more than 350,000 postcards are being delivered to supporter’s homes, community organisations and business who will distribute them over the next 14 days.
The postcards can be viewed here.
The three messages contained in the postcards are:
Question: Which country expects a child to wait more than 2 years for a wheelchair?
Answer: Australia
Question: Which country expect someone to live with only 2 showers a week?
Answer: Australia
Question: Which country abandons young people to life in a nursing home?
Answer: Australia
John Della Bosca says the campaign tells the brutal and shameful truth about Australia’s disability system.
He says the treasurer can start to fix this but it will require a commitment of significant funds in this year’s budget. The campaign is also hoping the Budget will deliver details on the trial sites for the NDIS.
In April Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that Federal funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme would be made in the May Budget.
The PM said that a National Disability Insurance Scheme will start in Australia from July 2013 in up to four locations across the country and that from mid 2013, about 10,000 people with significant and permanent disabilities will start to receive support.
By July 2014, that figure will rise to 20,000 people.
If you want to be part of the Not for Profit sector’s response to the Budget in our Pro Bono Australia Budget special on Wednesday send your reaction to editor@probonoaustralia.com.au.
