Media Release
10 December, 2009
Inaction by government on Supported Accommodation pushes families to the brink
Today a group of parents will be meeting with Minister for Disability, Mr Paul Lynch. They will put to
him in the strongest terms the need for action on provision of supported accommodation for their
sons and daughters and family members with dependent disability. They will take with them almost
to 3000 postcards signed by members of their community calling for supported accommodation to
be provided as a matter of the utmost urgency.
One of the people going to that meeting is Janice Marshall, Vice President of the Sutherland Shire
Disability Accommodation Action Group who said: “ Here’s the proof that our community does care
and demands action of those who have the power but apparently not the purpose. We are sick of
being led up the garden path, we are sick of endless and fruitless meetings and are sick of our
sons and daughters being invisible to those who make policy”
“In NSW, according to the most recent figures provided in the 2009 Budget Estimates process,
there are currently over 1000 names on a priority list for supported accommodation. This figure
does not take into account the thousands of people who require supported accommodation but fail
to gain a place on that priority-list register. Essentially we have a waiting-list to get onto a waiting
list, if it weren’t so serious you’d think we’re in a scene from Monty Python, but no we’re in NSW.
When in the rest of the world we’re in the 21st century but we’re in 1925 in NSW. Some families
have been waiting twenty years or more for accommodation. One mother of a severely disabled
adult child is 91 years old not even she is seen as a priority.” said Mary Lou Carter, party secretary
of the Carers Alliance.
“We have come to a very low point when politicians call on families of people with severe
disabilities to prove that the community stands with them on the issue of supported
accommodation. For thirty years this vital part of the spectrum of disability service has been
ignored as if it’s an option, when in fact it is a responsibility of government in a civilised society.
Successive governments have hoped the flashpoint would not ignite on their watch. Well we are at
flashpoint.” said Judy Foord, President of the group.
“A government that forces families of people with disabilities to abandon their sons or daughters
with severe disabilities in order to have any hope of securing supported accommodation is simply
immoral. Where is their shame?” asks Mary Lou Carter, party secretary of the Carers Alliance. “
“What we are seeing in NSW is a fundamental lack of leadership that affects every area of civil life.
If the test of a government is how it treats its vulnerable then the NSW government is failing that
test miserably,” continued Carter.
The Carers Alliance calls on the NSW government to live up to its responsibility, put aside its
tiresome factional infighting, represent the people of NSW starting with the provision of supported
accommodation for those who cannot provide for themselves,” said Mary Lou Carter
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Media Contact: Carers Alliance party secretary: Mary Lou Carter 0425-363-421
Carers Alliance is a national political party formed to represent family carers and promote
actions to help carers support the family member/s for whom they care
NEWS 
