After almost a decade of campaigning, the $44 million compensation package announced in today’s budget has the potential to be a huge win for Thalidomide survivors, who have been fighting for decades to get the recognition and support they deserve from the Australian government.

Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said that after a lifetime of discrimination, bullying, ongoing health problems and even suicide, Thalidomide survivors and their families now finally had an opportunity for justice.

Australian Greens Disability Rights and Services spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has labelled reports that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has fined just one provider, despite receiving more than 8000 complaints, as deeply concerning but not surprising.

"As a disabled person, as a disability advocate, it speaks to the systemic and endemic nature of the violence and abuse we have been screaming about for decades, and the abject failure of the commission to act.

Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John will today make good on his promise to introduce legislation aimed at fixing the lack of confidentiality protections for witnesses giving evidence to the Disability Royal Commission, ensuring that disabled people are able to tell their stories safely.

Senator Steele-John promised last week in the Senate that if the Attorney General did not take action urgently to protect witnesses and give the Royal Commission the safeguards it needs, then the Greens would introduce the necessary legislation this week.

Friday 7th August 2020

Australian Greens Disability Rights and Services spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said a failure to learn from the mistakes made during the first wave of COVID-19 and take action to protect disabled people is putting lives at risk in Victoria.

Senator Steele-John said both the Morrison and Andrews governments had failed to listen to disabled people, our families, advocates and organisations since the very beginning of the pandemic and that inaction had led to a surge in cases linked to residential disability services.

Monday, 13 July 2020

The Australian Greens have reiterated their calls for people on the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Carer Payment to receive extra economic support to help them get through the COVID-19 crisis.

Wednesday, 20th May, 2020

Australian Greens Disability Rights Spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on the South Australian Premier to reconsider the appointment of David Caudrey to lead the task force investigating the death of Ann Marie Smith, citing “unacceptable conflicts of interest”.

“The tragic death of Ms Smith must be investigated by a truly independent task force led by disabled people, not by individuals with links to the very systems at fault,” Steele-John said.

Monday, 18 May 2020

Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on Government Services Minister Stuart Robert to accept the Federal Court ruling that NDIS participants can use their funds for sex work.

Steele-John also said Minister Robert’s proposal to change NDIS rules, stopping participants from making claims for sex services, rather than accept the outcome of the court case were “a new low”.

Monday, 18 May 2020

Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has described the death of Ann-Marie Smith as horrific, but not unique.

“When I learnt about the tragic death of Ann-Marie Smith over the weekend it filled me with a mixture of grief and anger, in equal measures. Violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect is the experience of so many disabled people in this country," Steele-John said.

Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has labelled Health Minister Greg Hunt's announcement of the establishment of a National Advisory Group to guide development and implementation of a response plan focusing on the unique health needs of disabled people a "huge win" for the community.