MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) calls on all election candidates to commit to building a disability inclusive Australia by supporting key election priorities outlined in the ACDA Election Platform released today.
The ACDA Election Platform, “Building a Disability Inclusive Australia” asks for commitment to 13 policy priorities that will help shape and strengthen our nation by ensuring that people with disability are fully included, equal and respected.
“Approximately 20% of people living in Australia are people with disability. Yet we are too often shut out of civic life, jobs, and the community,” said Craig Wallace, President of People with Disability Australia. “People with disability have been excluded from Australia’s ethos of a fair go.”
“We are often subjected to numerous forms of violence, exploitation, discrimination and segregation. We are hindered by negative attitudes; a lack of disability support; unimaginative programs; and inaccessible transport, buildings, communications and information,” said Karin Swift, Acting President, Women With Disabilities Australia.
Gayle Rankine, Chairperson of First Peoples Disability Network stated, “2016 marks the 10 year anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and this is the right time to consider as a nation how far we have come and the ground ahead that we are still yet to cover for people with disability.”
“In this 2016 Federal election, the ACDA is uniting people with disability to call on voters, government, politicians, the media and the business community to join with us to build a disability inclusive Australia in all its diversity,” said Suresh Rajan, President of the National Ethnic Disability Alliance.
The ACDA will be asking political parties about their commitment to the 13 policy priorities. Responses will be published closer to the election on the ACDA website to assist voters with disability make an informed choice on 2 July 2016.
The 13 policy priorities are:
- Recast the National Disability Strategy as a mechanism for change
- Engage with people with disability and their representative organisations
- Fully fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Prioritise closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability
- Establish a Royal Commission into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability
- Establish a National Redress Scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse
- End disability discrimination in immigration policy
- Guarantee equity of support for older people with disability
- Prioritise a Jobs Plan for people with disability
- Guarantee a fair and equitable social welfare system
- Invest in affordable accessible housing
- Ensure our education system is inclusive
- Make our infrastructure and communications accessible
The full election platform in available for download here.
Media Contact:
El Gibbs
PWDA Media and Communications Manager
0408 682 867