A campaign highlighting what is claimed to be discrimination against people over 65 living with disability has been launched by Spinal Life Australia.
The campaign, Disability Doesn’t Discriminate but the Government does, is blanketing national commercial TV networks, radio and social media, airing the decision in 2013 to exclude the NDIS from the Age Discrimination Act.
Spinal Life CEO, Mark Townend, pictured, said he was surprised at the number of people who were unaware of the circumstances surrounding the introduction of the NDIS. “The amendment made it lawful for the NDIS to refuse funding to people over 65 with a disability,” he said.
He told F2L the campaign would continue until, “the government stands up and takes notice and realises the electoral implications about what is clearly an unjust and unacceptable situation because disability does not discriminate. There are a lot of people in the community oblivious as to how this can affect them and their families. It’s not just the person in the wheelchair who is affected but the whole family who don’t have the time or resources to look after their elderly relatives.”
Townend said there is a huge disparity between what the Aged Care package delivers compared to the NDIS. “The maximum to expect from an Aged Care package is $52,00 but the maximum from the NDIS can be up to $250,000.”
The campaign has generated a lot of interest from people wanting to jump on the bandwagon who can see the value of becoming involved. “This is great as it will extend the campaign and apply more pressure to where it is needed.”
He said to date there has been no response from the government, or other political parties, except to refer to the Productivity Commission report. “It is a sitting on the shelf situation for the government because until they see any response from the electorate nothing will happen.”
As for the chances of a government change of heart: “It you can be a backbencher one day and acting PM the next, then anything is possible.”
“I am calling on every politician to make a decision to ensure that vulnerable people over 65 will be as well looked after as those under 65.” And he is quietly confident it will happen because he believes the average Australian when they know about it will turn it into a voter issue.