It is just under a week ago that Treasurer Foley announced a number of spending cuts within the last State Budget. While the Disability Budget has not been reduced in dollar terms, and appears to be a bonus for the Disability Sector, it still leaves our sector languishing in despair.
Statistics from Disability SA show that the critical category one waiting list, which represents the number of people with disabilities who are homeless or in immediate risk of harming themselves, continues to rise. An increase of 55% over the last twelve months.
There are still 1097 people with disabilities on the supported accommodation waiting list. The government allowed for a paltry sum of only 29 new places, and with approximately 200 people added to the list just last year, it would take 38 years to clear this waiting list without a single extra person added. The funding increase was in the main generous to a number of bureaucratic processes. Just another waste of money on management programs, publishing newsletters, creating policies and so on and so on ...
There are countless people asking - what happens to my son when I die? Who will look after him? Who will change his clothes? What can I do? What CAN you do Mr Foley?
Parliament sat on budget day and the superannuation Bill was passed by the Members of Parliament. That Bill included a 6.5% increase for the Members of Parliament. Kelly Vincent, our MLC, voted against this outrageous increase in such a time of need!
Dignity Through Choice,
Rick Neagle
President of the dignity for disability Party
