BRISBANE archdiocese’s Holgate family has joined with other parents of children with disabilities to voice their outrage at the State Government’s decision to refuse National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) trials in Queensland.
Archdiocesan disability and awareness inclusion officer Deacon Anthony Gooley and Dean of Brisbane’s St John’s Anglican Cathedral Dr Peter Catt are among Church representatives who have also spoken out against the decision.
Richelle and Paul Holgate’s 14-year-old daughter Maddie, who has cerebral palsy, was featured in a story in The Catholic Leader last year.
Maddie attended Our Lady of Lourdes primary school, Sunnybank, for a time and now studies at Corinda State High School.
“We often wonder what all our lives might have been like had a scheme like the NDIS been around when she was born,” Mrs Holgate said.
“An NDIS will give us and others like Mad-die long-term certainty, access to experienced and professional carers, an opportunity for her to contribute to society and not feel like a burden.
“It will give us peace of mind to know that she would be looked after and supported if we suddenly weren’t there.
“People also need to remember disability can come to anyone at any stage in life – you don’t need to be born with a disability to become disabled.”
The family took part in a protest, along with about 2000 other people earlier this year, rallying for Queensland support for the introduction of the NDIS.
Since then the State Government has refused to contribute funding to participate in an NDIS trial proposed by the Federal Government for Gympie.
This was despite recent decisions by state governments in NSW and Victoria to co-fund the trials with the Federal Government.
Their decisions leave Queensland and Western Australia the only states not taking part.
Deacon Gooley said much confusion seemed to exist in the community about what was actually being proposed at this point in plans to implement the NDIS.
“It’s only about having a trial at this point to ensure the scheme can work at its most effective,” he said.
“I’m very disappointed at the way things have gone in Queensland.
“Gympie would have been a good site for the trial as it’s a regional centre and Queensland is the most heavily regionalised of all states.”
Deacon Gooley said the whole issue had been unnecessarily politicised.
“Anyway the trials were not originally the Federal Government’s idea,” he said.
“They were suggested by the Productivity Commission.
“We need to have the trials – they’re a vital stepping stone to ultimate implementation of a scheme.
“We also need to remember 20 per cent of population has a disability so we’re talking quite a significant group in society.”
Dr Catt, as chair of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane Social Responsibilities Committee, was recently reported as saying “(Queensland Premier Campbell) Newman should find a way to fund an NDIS trial in Queensland”.
He said people should not have to wait until the proposed full implementation of the scheme in 2018.
Dr Catt said it was “a simple matter of justice that people with a disability should have access to support that helps them to live dignified and fulfilling lives” and funding for an NDIS trial in Queensland would bring that goal a step closer.
Mrs Holgate asked whether politicians’ attitudes would change “if they or a member of their family suddenly became permanently disabled”.
“No one seeks out to be disabled – it could happen as easily as falling off their bike on the weekend, being injured in a car accident or having a child or grandchild born with a disability and suddenly your whole life changes,” she said.
“Would the politicians then be happy to endure the unfairness of the current system and be disadvantaged and have to rely on the goodwill of the community to get by?
“Would they then bicker between themselves, penny-pinch and politicise people’s lives?
“We live in one of the most successful economies in the world, so much so (Prime Minister) Julia Gillard feels confident enough to tell other countries they can learn from us.
“So why is a decision like this so hard to make?”
The Every Australian Counts campaign in support of the NDIS recently noted “while the racing industry receives $110 million in State Government funding support, our Government could not find $20 million to invest in people with disability to contribute towards a launch site”.
Deacon Gooley said it was important for all Catholics to become informed about the NDIS issue so they can become advocates for the scheme.
“They can do this through such things as social justice groups in their parishes,” he said.
“People in Queensland need to push for these vital NDIS trials.
“It’s an issue of equity and justice.”
