August 2007
1 June 2007

August 2007 - This update contains information from June to August 2007

Media

 — Carers cry ... SMH 16 June 2007
 — Letter to the Editor ... SMH 18 June 2007
 — The boomers future ... SMH 18 June 2007

Ministerial Meeting 25 July 2007

 — Notes and action from the Ministerial Meeting, Sydney 25 July 2007
 — ABC News, Disability talks break down, 25 July 2007.

Commonwealth and State Information

 — Letter from Mr Howard to Premier Iemma (NSW)
 — Letter from Min Gallagher (ACT) to Min Brough
 — Letter from States/Territories to Min Brough
 — Letter from Min Keanally (NSW) to Min Brough
 — Media Release from Min Keneally (NSW)

Disability Organisations

 — Position Statement on CSTDA, signed by 13 key NSW Advocacy organisations
 — NSW CID Accommodation Support Policy
 — Letter from Min Pitt to CSTDA Alliance
 — Letter from ACOSS and AFDO to Min Brough
 — Letter from Kevin Rudd to NCID ... 17 August 2007

Disability Assistance Package - click here

1 June 2007

CSTDA Alliance Members

For your information, new items posted on the website include:

Dr Carmen Lawrence: Appropriation Speech Monday 28 May 2007. This speech starts with “I think that a measure of any government or society is the way it treats the most vulnerable of its citizens. We can see what a government thinks of various groups of people by the way it responds financially and in policy.” The next paragraph starts with “The key test of decent leadership, in my view, is whether leaders appear to consider and care for people who have disabilities which adversely affect their ability to function and participate in our society.”

Ø ABC online: An Article by Mary Lou Carter titled “Support needed for carers and the disabled” with responses from over 50 families. A link to this article has been posted under “resources”.

Ø NDS Media Release: 1st May 2007. ‘Commonwealth’s Disability Funding Offer Deserves a Response’.

Ø Northern Territory Government Media Release 30.4.07: ‘Budget Boost for the Territory’s Disability Services’.

Ø ‘Battle for the hearts and minds of unpaid family carers of the disabled’: Message for CSTDA Alliance Members from the National Carers Coalition and the Gippsland Carers Association

Ø ‘Dear Kevin’: Media Release D4D South Australia 21 5 07

Ø ‘Get Ready’: Media Release from D4D South Australia 27.4.07

Ø ‘Lack of disability funding drives civil disobedience’: Media release by Senator Rachel Siewert 3.4.07


March NSW Election News
In the March NSW State elections a group of 16 carers ran for a seat in the NSW Upper House. “It was a decision made on the 6th of March, 2007 - the day the Writs for the Election were issued. On the 8th of March, 2007, the nomination forms were lodged together with the $5,000 nomination fee.” In NSW you are not allowed any identification on the ballot paper unless you are a political party that has been registered for 12 months. The carers were therefore only identified as Group A. With no name or identity, and a lack of resources, in a 2 week campaign, (which was e-politics at its most intense), the group attracted 26,000 votes!” This phenomenal result shows clearly that there are votes in disability!


The Carers Alliance - Political Arm of the ‘Hidden Army’
The above group of 16 people has now registered an incorporated association called the ‘Carers Alliance’ in order to become a political party. “The intention is to run a candidate or candidates for a Senate seat and perhaps for Lower House seats in the coming Federal Election”. To do this the Carers Alliance needs 600 federal members. They want to send a carer to Canberra “with a view to giving a voice to all those carers out there who are so enervated by their caring role that they do not have the energy left over to fight the fight on a higher profile.”

“Forming the Carers Alliance is just another arrow for our quiver in the fight for funds to meet the unmet need for disability services and supports…. The more pressure that builds and the sooner the major parties, Labor and Liberal, realise that we will not go away, we will not be ignored, (and we will use the numbers which exist --- 2.5 million Australians, 1.6 million caring for someone with disability under the age of 65), then they might just get it !!!!”

A ‘Carers Alliance’ Registration Form is attached, for those who may wish to join. Please send completed forms to Carers Alliance, c/- Mary Lou Carter, 114 Lower Saint Georges Crescent, Drummoyne NSW 2047. We have just been advised that already the Carers Alliance has over 400 members.


Centre for Civil Society
This Centre has joined the Alliance. The Centre is based in Victoria. It is “committed to strengthening civil society and empowering people in families, communities, associations and small enterprises.” The Centre states “we are the only think tank in Australia committed to a wide-ranging agenda of empowerment of the little people”. The Centre “brings together people in each federal electorate (150 electorates around Australia) to work locally in influencing policy and opinion, with a special focus on disability, mental health and family carer issues”. The Centre forwards National Updates. If you would like to be on their email list or to know more about the Centre go to www.civilsociety.org.au .