Pressure for election promise on disability scheme
Australians with disability and their supporters are asking people to take a pledge to vote in state and Federal elections only for parties that promise to introduce a national disability insurance scheme.
The responses will be compiled and candidates, particularly in marginal seats, will be told of the number of pledges in their electorate.
The “australiansmadashell” website will promote the issue and run the campaign, reported Mike Steketee in The Australian last week.
The Rudd Government’s Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, has no doubts about the political potency of the issue.
“I have a 100% conviction that this is far more important than Canberra insiders, including in the press gallery, have treated it up to now,” he told Mr Steketee.
As for the new campaign, “I am very supportive of moving disability from the important to the urgent column.”
Mr Steketee commented that “The major parties will have difficulty making an ironclad commitment to such a scheme, given the Productivity Commission is not due to report until the middle of next year.
“It is a scheme that comes with a price tag: a net $4 billion to $5 billion a year to cover people aged under 65, according to an analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“It also argues that the scheme could pay for itself, possibly after 10 years, through reduced disability support pension and carer payments, and lower bills for health, aged care and other social programs.”
