Government needs to back up all the talk with action to help students with disability

Hon Christopher Pyne MP

Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training

Senator Mitch Fifield

Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

 7^th September 2011

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BACK UP ALL THE TALK WITH ACTION TO HELP STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY

The Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Senator Mitch Fifield have today called on the Government to act immediately to address the needs of Australian students with disability.

Minister Peter Garrett and Senator Jan McLucas yesterday announced the formation of a Schools Disability Advisory Council to advise the Government on how to help students with a disability.

“Stakeholder consultation is important, but why don’t they just get on with it and implement a policy that will help students with disability, like an education card?” Mr Pyne said.

“The Coalition conducted a Disability Education Forum back in 2009, where stakeholders and parents indicated action needed to be taken now,” Senator Fifield said.

“At the last election, we took a practical policy to provide an Education Card worth up to $20,000 to assist 6000 students with disability.”

In his Budget Reply speech in May this year, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott re-affirmed the Coalition’s commitment to the Education Card:

“We understand that the parents and carers of children with disabilities have the toughest job in the country. That’s why we’ll make $20,000 a year available to help the 6000 school children with the most serious disabilities as an important first step towards a wider scheme to give all people with disabilities access to better services,” Mr Abbott said.

The Education Card would grant parents of students with disability the choice to determine the best school for their child, and the entitlement would follow the student and be paid straight to the education institution the parents choose.

“The Government needs to back up all the talking it’s doing with action to remove the barriers students with disability face at school and to get the best possible educational outcomes for Australian students with a disability,” they said.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Mr Pyne: Adam Howard 0404 414 833
Senator Fifield:  Lydia Bevege 0409 792 081