As election year is finally upon us, its time to reflect upon what the legacy of the past six years under the National led government has been and what it could continue to be if they are re-elected in September.
When I think back I notice a running theme, which is to ignore and most recently to create diversions. I’m not sure which is worse or if they are just as bad as each other. From the asset sales referendum, to the backlash against deep sea oil drilling and the destruction of the environment, to the sudden urge to change the flag amid a mountain of more pressing social issues New Zealanders are currently facing. How effectively we are tackling them however, is another question altogether.
The disabled community continues to be one of the most vulnerable in the country. Unemployment for people with both visible and invisible disabilities is still rampant, which means we are still over-represented in social welfare statistics against our will. Little has been done to fight the stigma that people who are welfare dependant are so by choice. Little has been done to change the structural discrimination people with disabilities face on a daily basis. In fact, one can argue that they have been reinforced. Look at the way this government is changing legislation so that new buildings don’t have to have wheelchair access. I’m not sure how anyone can see that as anything but a massive step backwards in terms of equal opportunities for all; an ideal that New Zealanders have traditionally valued and held dear to our hearts.
In the upcoming election this year I will be interested to see if there will be a shift in the way New Zealanders choose to cast their votes. In fact, I’m almost counting on it.
Latifa, I fear that your hopeful expectations that the fate of disabled and sick will become an election issue will not eventuate. I must say, that a change will only happen, if disabled and ill people on (or without) benefits, together with friends and supporters, make so much noise by way of protests, picket actions, on-line campaigning and so forth, that this will get taken note of in the mainstream media and wider public. It will also only happen if one of the political parties with sufficient support and numbers fully adopt the concerns of disabled and sick in their election campaign and policy framework.
As that does not appear to have happened, or rather as the latter have not made it a priority (including Labour and perhaps even the Green Party), I sadly see little prospect of this becoming a much relevant election issue. This is disgraceful, and re-enforces the common, somewhat patronising or at times condescending approach, suggesting people should be grateful for what they get, and otherwise come pleading in humility.
At least we get some people raise issues with the treatment received by WINZ and MSD now:
http://writehanded.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/this-is-not-my-story/
http://writehanded.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/lets-talk-about-winz/
I am also still struggling to comprehend, how this present government’s policies fit in with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrc.co.nz%2Fdisabled-people%2Fconvention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities&ei=nGEvU5b5N6LoiAep-YHABg&usg=AFQjCNHk2sCLrJIkMcy8CxSM3f1Tboi0JQ
http://www.odi.govt.nz/nzsl-video/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html
Contrast that with the new welfare measures:
http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15188-medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-bps-model-aimed-at-disentiteling-affected-from-welfare-benefits-and-acc-compo/
http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15463-designated-doctors-%e2%80%93-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc/
It seems that apart from some good intention statements by the Minister in charge, and some “pet projects” here and there, New Zealand is somewhat failing and heading in questionable directions. Perhaps they should sit down and talk more with the people that are actually directly affected? Perhaps they need more disabled to be allowed to lobby and work within their own party ranks?
You are right! With 20% of New Zealanders having a disability, and one MP associating as such, our showing in Parliament across the Parties is unbelievable.
My challenge as a staunch Labour supporter with a disability (New Zealand’s first diagnosed and self confessed Autistic Spectrum Lawyer) is for us to actually be inclusive and lead the way. It is all very well for us to speak of women ony havng 41% of Caucus (which is totally unacceptable, I agree), and only having one Asian MP, but if we in the Labour Party have 34 MPs in Parliament, then we should have at least 6 MPs to be vaguely inclusive. We have none. 0% representing 20%. However, Mana have none. 0% representing 20%. Greens have one. 7% representing 20%.
Labour is stepping up, and sadly, until recently, people with disabilities had not fronted up as candidates. There were reasons for this, and good ones, but nevertheless, if we do not have candidates, we do not have MPs. This year though, we have four nominated candidiates for the List. I wonder what percentage will succeed? For myself, I am applying for Electorates as well. We are starting to put Candidates forwards. I wonder if, now we are taking oursleves seriously, whetehr the political Parties will do the same?
A must read for all disabled and those facing issues with ACC and WINZ – ACCLAIM Otago’s report to the United Nations:
http://acclaimotago.org/un/Report_to_UN.pdf
An INTERIM REPORT to the UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE on the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES to be considered by the PRE-SESSIONAL WORKING GROUP to the 12th SESSION
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