Everyone should be able to live life free from violence and abuse, but we know that this is not the case for so many disabled people.
The @DRC_AU published a research paper outlining the horrific violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect experienced by disabled people - esp disabled women - on the same day 1000s of people protested about gender discrimination and sexual violence #March4Justice
This research paper only provides a basic overview of what disabled people are experiencing, but some of the statistics are absolutely shocking and clearly demonstrate the extent of the violence we are subjected to and the urgent need to eliminate it.
An invite-only drinks at Parliament House with @ElbitSystemsLtd - Israel's largest privately-owned weapons company - has been facilitated by fmr Defence Minister @cpyne, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to stop the revolving door of politicians becoming lobbyists #AusPol
They are a worldwide purveyor of drones, advanced surveillance & electronic warfare equipment including weapons considered illegal under international laws of war such as white phosphorous and cluster bombs
@ElbitSystemsLtd have no place in the halls of Australia's parliament.
Between August 2018 - May 2019 when Christopher Pyne was Defence Minister Elbit systems was awarded contracts worth roughly $89 million.
Now, barely 18 months later, he is here inside Parliament House spruiking weapons on their behalf at a secretive, invite-only event 😐
Minister Robert's comments yesterday about our #NDIS are deeply concerning and a smokescreen for a much broader power grab from the Morrison government #AusPol
A thread about why these planned changes are so insidious 👇
If a disabled person who is a participant of the NDIS can show that a support or a service they wish to include in their plan is reasonable or necessary, then the scheme is working as it should. That includes sex-based services.
It is the very antithesis of the scheme for the Minister have the power to veto - based on his own moral beliefs - the kind of services and supports a disabled person might need in their plan.
Yesterday @LiberalAus and @AustralianLabor teamed up to oppose saying sorry to the victims of war crimes committed by Australian SAS soldiers in #Afghanistan, and to oppose establishing a compensation scheme to support those families to rebuild their lives #AusPol
39 people - including children - lost their lives & 2 others suffered "cruel treatment" at the hands of Australian SAS soldiers. Families have been destroyed, communities torn apart & villages lie in ruin. Neither General Campbell or @ScottMorrisonMP are denying this happened.
The Brereton Inquiry report recommended that Australia should apologise to the victim's families and consider compensation, but all @ScottMorrisonMP has done so far is call Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and offer vague platitudes.
Last night’s #budget2020 did not include a single cent of funding towards the establishment of a Federal anti-corruption commission, despite the Morrison government promising to establish one since December 2018 #AusPol
Just over a year ago the #Greens Federal ICAC passed the @AuSenate with only the Morrison government voting against it. If there was any desire to establish a Federal #ICAC from the Morrison government they would have brought our bill on for a vote, but they still haven’t #AusPol
In February of this year, the @AuSenate again voted to compekl the Morrison government to bring on our #ICAC bill for a vote in the House of Reps. Again, nothing happened #AusPol
A motion put by Minister Cormann & Senator Wong today will dramatically limit the number of motions that can be put before the senate on any given day.
Let's be clear - this is the two major parties ganging up to GAG debate and expression by the crossbench in @auSenate#Auspol
Let me explain why motions are an important democratic function:
Motions allow us to put before the Senate matters that are important to the community and, especially, matters that members of the community may not otherwise be able to raise with elected representatives #AusPol
Motions also allow us to formally request documents from the government, known as an order for the production of documents. This GAG hampers our ability to scrutinise the government's actions by limiting the number of opportunities to formally request documents #AusPol
Health Minister @GregHuntMP & NDIS Minister @stuartrobertmp must urgently convene a meeting of state & territory health & disability ministers, disability orgs & @NDIS to outline clearly what measures being taken to ensure that #pwd not disproportionately impacted by #COVID19
I am extremely concerned at the apparent failure of the government to properly include disabled people in its #COVID19 planning, leaving the disability community unnecessarily exposed #AusPol
There has been no coordinated approach from the federal government into the impact of #COVID19 on disabled people and, frankly, a disturbing attitude of buck-passing in the context of wider economic concerns #AusPol