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The Rebuttal

Tag: politics

  • Disability Today, How Lucky Are We??

    adefinty2
    Image is of a man. He is wearing a black and white checked shirt. He has a neat clipped beard. His arms are raised and his fists clenched. He appears to be screaming in frustration.

    Australia likes to call itself the land of the “fair go,” where no one is left behind. You would assume that includes people with disability. Sadly, the reality tells a very different story.

    Take the recent announcement by Disability Minister Mark Butler. He plans to remove children with developmental delays and mild autism from the NDIS, replacing their supports with a new state-based Thriving Kids Program. On paper, it’s framed as reform. In practice, it feels like a step backwards.

    The name itself is telling. “Thriving Kids” sounds positive, but it feels like yet another attempt to avoid the word disability—just like “special needs” or “differently abled.” Language gymnastics don’t create inclusion; they obscure reality.

    Even more troubling was Minister Butler’s language around autism and developmental delay. He spoke of “mild” disability and even hinted that some autism might not be permanent. He may not have meant it, but the effect was deeply offensive. By singling out autism in this way, he alienated both the autistic and broader disability communities.

    The Minister insists that there are too many children with autism and developmental delay on the NDIS. But here’s the catch: when I worked in the NDIS, every child under seven—whether deaf, blind, autistic, living with Down syndrome and so on – was categorised as having a “developmental delay” A formal diagnosis of disability was required by age 7. So when Butler talks about “developmental delay,” he may in fact be referring to all children under seven with disability on the NDIS. That’s an enormous clean-out, dressed up as reform. (If the use of developmental delay in young children on the NDIS has changed since, I am happy to be corrected.)

    Could this new model lead to better supports? Perhaps. But that depends on whether states engage constructively. So far, they’ve refused—complaining about matched funding requirements and threatening to walk away. The Federal Government is retaliating with threats to strip hospital funding. Disability, once again, is reduced to a bargaining chip in a political game.

    Meanwhile, people with disability continue to face daily barriers. Recently I attended a workshop where a wheelchair user gains employment, only to find that their heritage listed workplace has no accessible toilet. Because the building is “heritage,” no changes can be made. So instead they wheel themselves 30 minutes each way to the nearest accessible toilet – rain, hail, or heatwave—just to use the bathroom. The time taken to complete the toileting along with the distance meant it was ninety minutes a day lost. This to meet a basic human need.

    Another person I met recently at an employment forum acquires a disability, returns to work, and realises that their office is not accessible. They leave and start their own business. At the forum they asked Disability Employment Providers about funding that might be available. Not one suggested Work Assist, JobAccess, or the Employment Assistance Fund. These are some of the most basic tools of disability employment—and the providers didn’t mention a single one. I sure hope the new Inclusive Employment Australia model with its Meaningful Engagement plans and requirements of lived experience and disability training does a better job than this, it has to!

    This is Australia. This is disability today.

    We are told we are a burden. We are reduced to numbers in budget debates. We are shunted between state and federal governments like pawns. And we have people supporting us that seemingly don’t even understand the programs that they are employed in. All we want is equality—an equal footing in the society we contribute to. Instead, we are reminded daily that we are the burden treated and a problem.

    Disability today. How lucky are we???


  • Saving the NDIS – Who is Listening?

    adefinty2
    Image is of DPAC protesters outside the Melbourne Convention Centre. Prominent is a tombstone that reads NDIS – 1July 2013 – 3 October 2024

    I am conflicted in writing this article. I am conflicted because in recent weeks I have had some positive dealings with the NDIA, either through attendance to support people at review meetings and even at appeals meetings. This reminded me that there are many great workers within the NDIA and other NDIS areas. Despite this, there is no doubt that NDIS participants and their families are being severely impacted by the changes being pushed through to reform the NDIS. I write this in support of them.

    On 20th January I was invited to attend a protest about the NDIS. The protest was organised by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC). This is a dedicated group of disabled people who have become concerned, nae horrified, about the NDIS reforms. They believe that the reforms are killing the NDIS.

    They think the cuts and changes that are being made have meant that the NDIS has lost its original intent. It’s now moved from a model that promoted social inclusion, choice and control to a model that is about seeing people with a disability as a burden and taking away that control. (I should say here that everything that I express in this article are my own views, and mine alone.)

    Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. The last time that I attended an NDIS protest was actually to campaign for it to be set up way back in 2012 or something. Disabled people and their associates campaigned strongly for the NDIS and won. It eventually became reality in 2013. I remember well when the NDIS finally became reality. There was not a dry eye in Parliament House, Canberra. Prime Minister Gillard and Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin embraced in the middle of Parliament. Those were heady days.

    Image shows then Prime Minister Julia Gillard hugging then Minister for Disability Reform, Jennifer Macklin on the passing of the NDIS bill in parliament on March 28th 2013

    The original intent of the NDIS was to have disabled people taking part in our society as much as possible. It also recognised that there were many carers that were going above and beyond to support their disabled children. Sometimes the carers were elderly and still caring for their disabled children who were also elderly. The NDIS recognised that by also supporting carers it would allow them to return to work and make a significant economic contribution to Australia.

    The Productivity Commission recognised the multiplier effect. It recognised that by supporting disabled people to participate both socially and economically, that there would be a return from this investment. People with disabilities could attend theatre, restaurants, go shopping, sporting events and so on. In doing so they would bring with them families and friends leading to increased business income. Employment would be created and so on. It has been said that for every $1 invested in the NDIS that $2.1 was made. No longer were disabled people seen as a burden.

    Well, that was then but this is now. The headlines scream, ‘Coalition denies plans to slash NDIS, but says cost is ‘out of control’ and ‘NDIS to cost $100b, exceeding the Pension’  and ‘NDIS ‘unsustainable’ and ‘out of control’ and ‘NDIS cost to outstrip Medicare within two years, govt says‘

    What ever happened to the stories and data that show that the NDIS is making a difference to the lives of people with a disability? Where are the headlines that highlight the economic benefits and jobs that have been created? There are few.

    You can find articles about the NDIS economic benefit that are mostly written by disability advocates. I couldn’t find anything in the mainstream media. Instead it’s all negative – Cost too much, fraud, abuse; it never ends.

    Meanwhile Disabled people look on as their hard earned NDIS gains are slowly ripped away from them. At the Protest speakers told of children who are being removed from the NDIS. They explained how they are being told to use State based supports that do not exist. They bemoaned the lack of clarity of the much vaunted Foundation Supports, which now will not be ready until the end of the year according to Minister Butler.

    They told of plans that are being drastically cut causing immense stress and even fear for participants lives. They protested the changes in assessments and how this is taking away their much valued choice and control. This massive loss of choice, control and dignity is best illustrated by the placard below:

    Image shows a placard that was part of the NDIS protest on 20 May 2025. It reads – It is horrible having someone you didn’t choose touch your body

    And who is listening to these people? These people that took it upon themselves to protest outside the Disability Services Consulting (DSC) NDIS conference. DSC themselves are a fine organisation that do a lot of good things. They employ people with disability and people with lived experience. But sadly their conference was out of reach of many at the grassroots level. An online Zoom attendance was $720. In person it was $1680. This for a two day conference. Throw in accommodation and travel costs and it is astronomical. One wag commented that to be able to attend they would have had to sell their car.

    There were some great advocates with a disability who attended the conference. El Gibbs, Natalie Wade, Dougie Herd, Samantha Connor and George Taleporos are outstanding and elite advocates who were at the conference. But where were the grassroots? The people who are impacted everyday by the decisions being made to cut the NDIS costs. The people being kicked off the scheme. People who have lost supports as their funding has been cut. People who could ask the hard questions and tell their stories. Where were they?

    Certainly not the people at the protest because the Melbourne Convention Centre security would not let them in. God knows, given that 45% of people with a disability live below the poverty line, they certainly could not afford to pay to attend.

    And so the Government steamrolls forward with its NDIS reforms. All it seems at the moment is cuts to plans and very often, participants being told that they no longer qualify for the NDIS. There is a hyper focus on fraud instead of internal processes. What of the much vaunted Navigators and Foundation supports? Are people with a disability truly involved in the co-design of these new supports? Nobody knows. I suspect not even the NDIA!

    Meanwhile people with a disability, their carers and their families are screaming. They are hurting and they are stressed. Some fear that cuts in support will put their health and lives at risk. Is the Government listening? Are service providers listening? Are people with a disability truly involved in the co design of the reforms beyond the elite advocates mentioned here?

    Well given that people with a disability protesting could not even get through the doors of the huge and important DSC NDIS conference it doesn’t seem so. Who really is listening?

  • GASLIGHTING ……

    adefinty2

    Access Super For PTSD - Trauma Counselling | Release My Super

    Bill Shorten is blowing his own trumpet. Mr Shorten is, of course, the Minister for the NDIS. Since Labor got back in power Shorten has been hellbent on making the NDIS sustainable. His focus has mostly been on fraud and people that abuse the NDIS. He has been targeting shonky service providers. To be fair, he has been quite successful with this. Recently they publicly listed service providers who have been fined and 126 providers who have been banned altogether. It needed to be done.

    Now, I am highly critical of Mr Shorten’s approach. Not because I think it’s necessarily wrong, but rather because I think his approach is an easy way to seem like he is doing something about making the NDIS sustainable. It looks good when can scream that $1 billion has been saved by targeting fraud. Well done on that I say. Where I am critical is that seems to be all Mr Shorten focuses on and he is neglecting many other key issues.

    For mine, one of the biggest wastes that happens in the NDIS occurs because many delegates and planners are ill equipped for the complex job that they are tasked with. I know from working within the sector that there are many great LACs and many good delegates. But far too many, to be totally blunt, don’t know what they’re doing.

    How else can you explain that my wife, an Auslan user who actively participates in the community through sport and theatre, got just $300 for Auslan interpreting for a year. It was her first plan after waiting almost 12 months for her access to be granted. On appeal she got another $1300. So bad was it that a friend had to offer some of their NDIS interpreting budget so that she could participate in activities.

    She, like thousands upon thousands of NDIS participants, has had to review and now go to the Tribunal. What this costs the NDIS in legal fees, administrative costs is in the many millions of dollars. Not to mention the trauma and stress this is causing so many participants that cannot be calculated in monetary terms. It is a disgrace!

    My wife’s budget, to cover private medical and social needs, would have covered about six bookings. This is given that interpreting bookings are a 2 hour minimum. Yet, some bright spark in the NDIS has deemed that this is totally adequate. Now, before anyone asks; yes she provided comprehensive reports and evidence. I don’t think the delegate or the LAC even bothered to read them.

    You do not hear Shorten talking about this. Instead these many, many participants who are receiving inadequate and poorly thought out plans are being gaslit. So people like my wife, and there are thousands of them, are “At the heart of the NDIS” says Shorten. “Ensuring sustainability was never about cutting participants plans.”, he claims. These are direct quotes from Shorten in a recent Linkedin post. (Let’s not forget that he also calls disability activists who challenge and oppose him, “EXTREMISTS”)

    Well Sally would beg to differ. (Not her real name.) Sally had her access to the NDIS approved in 2018. She was assisted by an organisation to apply. Sally has very complex needs. It seems, and she is unsure of this, that her original access to the NDIS was granted because she has a psychosocial disability.

    But Sally has many different needs around her disabilities. She has mobility issues. These mobility issues are the result of many complex health issues and are permanent. She requires aids such as a wheelchair and other assistive technology to be able to live independently.

    To access the community she requires support workers. To maintain her home she requires support workers as well. Her psychosocial disabilities compound the issues. Depression and extreme anxiety means, at its worse, that she struggles to confront and complete everyday tasks. Capacity building and support workers were integral parts of her plan to address the psychosocial issues as well as the mobility and physical ones.

    And you know what? I reckon you could call Sally an NDIS success story. Since 2018 the NDIS assisted her to develop more confidence and address her depression and anxiety. The support workers assisted her to develop skills and confidence. The ability to access the community with support and aids improved her over all mental well being. These are all reasons that the NDIS was established.

    Then disaster struck. The NDIS revoked her access. They told her that she no longer qualified for the NDIS and support was withdrawn. She appealed and submitted comprehensive reports of her needs and disabilities, all to now avail. Sally is now trying the Tribunal, this will be a long and drawn out process with no guarantee that her supports will be reinstated.

    As I write this I have to stop and breathe. I hold my head in my hands. I try to make sense as to why Sally’s support has been removed. The reason given for removing her access is that she has not explored all treatments.

    Apparently, after six years of support that has achieved enormous gains for Sally, her needs are “medical” and there are “treatments” available which are not NDIS responsibilities. It’s all in her head you see, everything including her physical disabilities. Sadly, the trauma that Sally has experienced has seen her regress. Her mental health is shot. The future remains uncertain and she currently has minimal support.

    No plans have been cut? What bollocks Mr Shorten. People like Sally are being kicked off the scheme. Your “TRUMPET BLOWING” is gaslighting at its worst. Just ask my mate Dan who recently had his plan cut by over $50 000. In fact a recent article in The Saturday Paper titled, NDIS Crackdown Wrongly Withdraws Support outlines how many people are being unfairly removed from the NDIS and given only 28 days to demonstrate why they should remain on the scheme. It is disgusting.

    Well done Mr Shorten on tackling the fraud. Now what are you going to do about the rest of it? How are Navigators and foundation supports going to help? Indeed, what will Navigators and foundation supports even look like? We all don’t know. The disability community and their associates are being severely impacted by NDIS decisions and uncertainty, please listen to their stories.