Politics - Let's speak the language government understands

Respite services formerly provided at Greystanes House in the Blue Mountains, just outside Sydney, for families of severely/profoundly disabled people. If you look at these two items you will see the current state of play.

http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2005/s1483486.htm First program broadcast October, 2005

http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1585422.htm Follow up broadcast March 2006

The following is an article in the local paper, the Blue Mountains Gazette http://bluemountains.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&story_id=467708&category=general%20news&m=3&y=2006 in the Blue Mountains region just outside Sydney.

I have submitted the following response to the families:

Natasha Stott-Despoja et al decried and demonstrated at the inhumanity of detention centres. Yet where are these great humanitarians when it's our own vulnerable severely disabled who are in the new "detention" centres, the family home? The story of your families in the Blue Mountains is replicated across this state and across this country.

It is absolutely unacceptable for government to force ill-health and penury upon you while neglecting its responsibilties to provide proper services to those you love who have dependent disability.

Government just doesn't get it!! It is in the interests of every member of the community to have properly resourced and funded disability services. This would give us all the assurance that should an accident of life or of birth befall any of us, we will be cared for in a responsive and humane way. This is the mark of a civil society and honours our humanity.

Families and carers I urge you to mobilise and be heard, a political backlash is the only thing governments understand. Let's speak their language.