Australia — The
2004 Budget offers plenty of assistance for people
already in the workforce and earning high incomes - but
nothing to assist people with disabilities to move out of
poverty into open employment, or out of aged care nursing
homes into more suitable accommodation.
Australian Democrats spokesperson
for Family & Community Services and Disability,
Senator Brian Greig, says the Budget is heavily weighted
in favour of high income, working families to the
detriment of single parent families and people with a
disability.
"People with a disability missed
out on the $300 lump payment in the last pre-election
budget and now miss out again on any lump sum payments.
The Government is offering lump sum one-off payments of
$600 to families, $1000 to carers, $3500 to aged care
facilities for residents, but nothing to those with a
disability," Senator Greig said.
"In spite of an injection of $2.2
billion into aged care, there is nothing for young people
with disabilities trapped in nursing homes, often for
years, with low levels of rehabilitative
support.
"People with a disability have the
same needs as other low income Australians. But, they do
not qualify for the tax cuts; few will have the
opportunity to contribute to Superannuation and they will
therefore not benefit from the Government's
co-contribution incentives."
Senator Greig says it appears that
this section of Australian society is being made to 'pay'
for the Senate's understandable decision last year to
reject the severe cuts to disability support pensions
that were proposed by the Government.
"The pay rise in the Budget is good
news for those currently working in "business services",
but there is little to assist those who are able to move
from the old sheltered workshops into mainstream
employment," Senator Greig said.
"All the reforms of the McClure
Report which would have helped people with a disability
have been ignored now for three years. They may well
disappear into history."
The Democrats are again calling on
the Government to recognise the cost of disability, pay
tiered income support and at least provide a one-off
payment from this year's generous surplus.
