Post by Banker on Dec 15, 2011 6:30:03 GMT 7
All Tom Bridge wanted for Christmas was a Minister for Disability in the Australian Parliament. In the cabinet reshuffle yesterday, he got what he wanted. Sort of.
Last week I set out to write an article in which I explained that what I would really like for Christmas is to have a Minister for Disability at the federal level or at the very least for "disability" to be added to the portfolio title of Jenny Macklin. On Monday the Gillard Government announced a reshuffle which produced a positive result, with Jenny Macklin becoming the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform.
This is a positive step forward for this country given that people with a disability are the largest minority in Australia and by virtue of the fact that we are pursuing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) between the Commonwealth and State Governments.
However, it is only to be seen as a step forward rather than a leap. This is because the title of the new Ministry is "Disability Reform", giving the impression that the portfolio is only about the NDIS development and implementation. This may not be the case, but in politics, perception is absolutely everything.
I wrote that in the event we were blessed with a Minister incorporating disability into the name directly, rather than the existing Parliamentary Secretary, that it had to be someone with immense passion and interest in the area. I said this after witnessing the most impassioned speech I have seen in relation to people with a disability from any current parliamentarian. This speech came from Bill Shorten, the then Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation in calling for the NDIS to formally become part of the ALP Party Platform.
The speech by Bill Shorten at the conference brought out an intensity and passion that I have not seen from him in his finance role, either in the parliament or at press conferences and speeches. It is that kind of intense interest and energy that you would hope to see from a Minister representing your interests in government, advocating and delivering programs and policies on your behalf.
Consequently, Bill Shorten would have been my ideal candidate for such a portfolio with such an intense connection and emotional interest with the challenges that people with a disability face on a day-to-day basis. However, Jenny Macklin, who has effectively been working to bring forward the interests of people with a disability under the Community Services portfolio, is not a bad choice either.
Having a Minister for Disability or Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and Disability Reform is not just about having the extra clout within government for the delivery of programs. It's also about creating the perception that you have an interest in particular groups within society and their respective plight.
It is worth noting that having a relevant Minister for a group in society does not automatically translate into "decision and delivery". It is not some "magic pill" that will automatically transform lives. However, in my opinion, it does help to focus or direct government intention in a particular way which can only be a positive.
Jenny Macklin having the word "disability" added to her portfolio description will be an improvement from the status quo. The change will create at least the perception that there is an interest in the lives of people with a disability. The existing Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs should be able to easily absorb the addition of disabilities to its purview. Though, in my view, the best candidate for the job (Bill Shorten) was not placed in the portfolio, this is by no means a dud result.
To you Prime Minister, a cautious thank you for at least creating the title of Minister for Disability Reform and giving people with disability a chance at a better deal than we have had before. Perhaps as a collective Christmas present for people with a disability next year Prime Minister, we can have a Minister for Disability, dropping the "Reform" part of Minister Macklin's new title. It would demonstrate a prolonged interested in Australia's largest minority.
Tom Bridge graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Arts, completing a double major in Ethics and Human Rights and Political Studies. He was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and blogs at Take Your New Paradigm and... Follow him on Twitter at @aussiepollies
www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2011/12/13/3389878.htm
Last week I set out to write an article in which I explained that what I would really like for Christmas is to have a Minister for Disability at the federal level or at the very least for "disability" to be added to the portfolio title of Jenny Macklin. On Monday the Gillard Government announced a reshuffle which produced a positive result, with Jenny Macklin becoming the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform.
This is a positive step forward for this country given that people with a disability are the largest minority in Australia and by virtue of the fact that we are pursuing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) between the Commonwealth and State Governments.
However, it is only to be seen as a step forward rather than a leap. This is because the title of the new Ministry is "Disability Reform", giving the impression that the portfolio is only about the NDIS development and implementation. This may not be the case, but in politics, perception is absolutely everything.
I wrote that in the event we were blessed with a Minister incorporating disability into the name directly, rather than the existing Parliamentary Secretary, that it had to be someone with immense passion and interest in the area. I said this after witnessing the most impassioned speech I have seen in relation to people with a disability from any current parliamentarian. This speech came from Bill Shorten, the then Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation in calling for the NDIS to formally become part of the ALP Party Platform.
The speech by Bill Shorten at the conference brought out an intensity and passion that I have not seen from him in his finance role, either in the parliament or at press conferences and speeches. It is that kind of intense interest and energy that you would hope to see from a Minister representing your interests in government, advocating and delivering programs and policies on your behalf.
Consequently, Bill Shorten would have been my ideal candidate for such a portfolio with such an intense connection and emotional interest with the challenges that people with a disability face on a day-to-day basis. However, Jenny Macklin, who has effectively been working to bring forward the interests of people with a disability under the Community Services portfolio, is not a bad choice either.
Having a Minister for Disability or Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and Disability Reform is not just about having the extra clout within government for the delivery of programs. It's also about creating the perception that you have an interest in particular groups within society and their respective plight.
It is worth noting that having a relevant Minister for a group in society does not automatically translate into "decision and delivery". It is not some "magic pill" that will automatically transform lives. However, in my opinion, it does help to focus or direct government intention in a particular way which can only be a positive.
Jenny Macklin having the word "disability" added to her portfolio description will be an improvement from the status quo. The change will create at least the perception that there is an interest in the lives of people with a disability. The existing Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs should be able to easily absorb the addition of disabilities to its purview. Though, in my view, the best candidate for the job (Bill Shorten) was not placed in the portfolio, this is by no means a dud result.
To you Prime Minister, a cautious thank you for at least creating the title of Minister for Disability Reform and giving people with disability a chance at a better deal than we have had before. Perhaps as a collective Christmas present for people with a disability next year Prime Minister, we can have a Minister for Disability, dropping the "Reform" part of Minister Macklin's new title. It would demonstrate a prolonged interested in Australia's largest minority.
Tom Bridge graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Arts, completing a double major in Ethics and Human Rights and Political Studies. He was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and blogs at Take Your New Paradigm and... Follow him on Twitter at @aussiepollies
www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2011/12/13/3389878.htm
