Disability Services Minister Craig Crawford has welcomed the launch of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 to help the one-in-five Queenslanders living with disability – almost 950,000 people – their families and carers.
Mr Crawford said today’s launch (Friday December 3) also marks International Day of People with Disability and comes ahead of Queensland’s Disability Action Week, that starts Sunday.
“I’m proud to champion the interests of Queenslanders living with disability in the development of the strategy,” Mr Crawford said.
“What is significant is this strategy embraces the ideals of respect, inclusivity, and equality,” he said.
“Equally important is it draws on the voices and experiences of people living with disability and their support network.
“Our task ahead is to improve access to education, employment, appropriate housing, and a society without stigma or barrier.”
Mr Crawford said it is troubling that the Morrison Government – after years of using the $23 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme to prop up the federal budget – appear to be again walking away from their responsibility to support Australians with disability.
“Queensland taxpayers hand over more than $2 billion a year to the federally-run NDIS, and the 97,475 Queenslanders on NDIS funding depend on it to be able to live their lives,” he said.
“Anecdotally, we are getting complaints from Queenslanders on NDIS about having their plans reduced, especially reductions to supported independent living.
“The Morrison Government needs to step up and deliver.”
As part of the national strategy, Mr Crawford said: “Queensland is committed to delivering actions such as developing a whole-of-Government inclusive language toolkit in consultation with people with disability.
“In addition, the Palaszczuk Government will fund specialist advocacy services to ensure First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability and children and young people with disability have help when needed and are supported to build their capacity for self-advocacy.
“These are only initial examples of the steps Queensland is taking to put this Strategy into action to create change.”
