Tuesday, 27 February

The Government is failing to support the rights of deaf, blind, hard-of-hearing and vision-impaired Australians to access the social, cultural and educational benefits of television, according to Australian Greens disability rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John.

Senator Steele-John posed questions of Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and his Department during estimates today about the accessibility of free-to-air television for vision and hearing impaired Australians.

A Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report that shows a sharp slowdown in expenditure for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) should not be seen as a positive thing by the Turnbull Government, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today. 

“The Liberal-National Government have been making it more difficult for people accessing the Disability Support Pension, in 2015 the-then Abbott Government announced reviews for DSP recipients under 35 and then started on those over 35. 

Tuesday, 13 February

The Government has again refused to commit to a Royal Commission into the violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability in institutional settings, after questions today from the Australian Greens calling on them to do so.

The Human Rights Watch report that details harrowing systemic abuse of people with disability in prisons should trigger a Royal Commission into abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability in institutional settings, say the Australian Greens. 

The Senate has supported a motion calling on the Government to reconsider its decision and commit to a Royal Commission into the violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability in institutional and residential settings. 

“The abuse of people with disability in settings where they should feel safe and at home is prevalent and systemic, and the Government has no interest in truly addressing it”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disabilities SenatorJordon Steele-John said today. 

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Almost one in two Australians living with a disability are unemployed compared to the national average of 5.4 per cent, a national disgrace according to Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John.

“It is abundantly clear from Senator Fifield’s lacklustre response in question time today that the Turnbull Government has no plans to seriously address high rates of unemployment amongst the disability community,” Senator Steele-John said.

Monday, 27 November 201

Australian Greens Disability services spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said a decision by the NSW government to withdraw funding for disability advocacy groups, leaving responsibility with the NDIS, would rob many in the community of their voice.

“The Greens support a fully funded NDIS, but it cannot come from our most vulnerable through cuts to the social safety net and the social security portfolio”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“This is robbing Peter to pay Paul and I’m sure people with disability and their carers would be uncomfortable that the scheme came off the back of people who are struggling.

“I urge the Government to turn to revenue raising measures that have repeatedly been flagged by the Greens and others, such as addressing negative gearing and capital gains tax”.