Hey! We Not Second Class Citizens Any More

[Banjo]

Labor backs disability insurance scheme

LABOR has unanimously backed a national disability insurance scheme, declaring it a historic reform to prevent 2 million Australians being treated as second-class citizens.

The assistant treasurer, Bill Shorten, urged an end to a situation where ''people with disabilities live in exile in their own country'' at the ALP national conference yesterday.

In an impassioned speech, Mr Shorten said: ''You don't put signs on buildings saying 'no blacks' but that's effectively what we do to people with disabilities. Every time someone can't cross the road because a curb isn't properly designed, that's a human rights issue.''

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, used the International Day of People with Disabilities to announce the scheme while visiting the Sydney Aquarium with a group of disabled people and their carers yesterday.

Ms Gillard pledged $10 million dollars for projects examining how to deliver individual, personalised care.

Once it is up and running, it will cost an estimated $6 billion a year.

Instead of money going directly to services, as they do now, funds will go to individuals who will be assigned a single case worker to help them deal with all their requirements such as equipment, schools, workplaces and government payments.

''Imagine if we put 2 million people inside a fence and said 'you can't have the same rights as other people','' Mr Shorten told the conference.

An independent agency will work out national standards of disability, entitlements, changes to the workforce as well as education of families and carers on how it will work.

Ms Gillard said only a Labor government could deliver such a historic change. The government plans to launch it in 2018.

The national disability insurance scheme is now officially part of the party's platform. Previously there had only been an expression of support.

A campaign to reform disabilities has been building for years, with carers and families saying the existing system is inadequate.

Each state and territory has a different approach, which means people receive different services and assistance based on where they live.

Labor will now focus on the scheme as one of its key reforms.

Read more: www.smh.com.au/national/labor-backs-disability-insurance-scheme-20111203-1ocid.html#ixzz1fYgo27rv

[wbmania72]

they are going down very bad and fast.spreding blue ribbons to every one.
question is where they gonna get or steal $6 billion when deficit is already about $30=40 billions.
people doesnt need cpmpassion at that age when sitting in a nursing home or something.
i wanna enjoy my life now not when i about to die.what da hell am i going to do money they promising then.after that age or what ever the condition i would be in,staf that money and pityness.even if they give you whole world what you gonna do?
regards

[latindancer]

Swan to wield axe on govt programs


Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has threatened to wield the axe at government programs in order to find extra budget savings.

Mr Swan has to find more savings than anticipated to protect the surplus.

"We're going to have to look very hard at spending," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"We're going to have to look very hard at priorities."

Mr Swan will restate the importance of returning the budget to surplus in 2012/13 when he addresses an Australian Business Economists' breakfast in Sydney on Thursday.

"In an economy moving back towards trend growth with relatively low unemployment and a record pipeline of investment, it is appropriate for the government to be returning the budget to surplus," he will tell the gathering.

In the mid-year budget update released last November, Treasury forecast a $1.5 billion surplus for 2012/13, after a $37.1 billion deficit in this financial year.

Mr Swan also dismisses claims Labor's determination for a budget surplus is a political strategy rather than an economic imperative, saying Australia needs to send a message of confidence to global investors.

"This is rubbish - there are compelling reasons why the economics of surplus in 2012/13 makes so much sense," he says.

Balancing the budget was appropriate for an economy returning to trend growth at around 3.25 per cent, and was the nation's best defence in the current period of global economic uncertainty, Mr Swan added.

It would also give the central bank more flexibility on interest rates if the global economy turned weaker.

Mr Swan declined to say whether there would be any new programs or a crackdown on middle class welfare.

"I'm not going to rule in and rule out things and play that game," he told ABC Radio.

"What we will do in this budget is what is right for the country."

He also refused to speculate on whether the government would apply a means test to the 50 per cent childcare rebate or if it was scared of a voter backlash.

But the treasurer said it was getting tougher to find savings.

Global turbulence particularly from Europe impacted on revenue late last year, he said.

Another factor was the "structural change" to company tax.

"We're receiving less than what we expected in that area as well," he said.

Australian Industry Group spokeswoman Heather Ridout said the government had a difficult equation.

"The need for a surplus is certainly there, we're in uncertain times and being a borrower is not a great place for the Commonwealth to be," she told ABC Radio.

"But at the same time we shouldn't do it at any cost."

Ms Ridout hopes the government won't scale back industry support such as programs aimed at boosting small businesses.

"These areas have to be sustained," she said.

But government must be tough, Ms Ridout said.

"There's been a real growth in benefits over the years, and they're hard to cut back on."

Australian Council of Social Service chief Cassandra Goldie acknowledges tax revenue is down, but does not agree a budget surplus should come at the expense of those receiving welfare, some who struggle on $35 a day.

She wants welfare payments increased in line with real incomes, rather than with inflation.

"I think this is absolutely the right budget to deliver this," Dr Goldie told ABC Radio.

Savings could be found through cracking down on high-income earners who used trusts to minimise tax by distributing earnings to family members.

As well tax arrangements for redundancy payments known as "golden handshakes" should be changed.

"We know that the Henry tax panel identified that as a priority," Dr Goldie said.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey said it was "ground hog day".

"Before each budget he promises Armageddon," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"Then we get a series of confused, deliberate leaks from the government."

Mr Hockey said when the budget was revealed it did not live up to the tough-love hype.
"A swan is not going to change its spots," he said.