Hon Bill Shorten MP
Member for Maribyrnong
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services
Bill Shorten spoke on the 01/04/2009 at the National Press Club. The publicity (see http://www.npc.org.au/speakerArchive/bshort.html) said:
The Rudd Government has put the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups – including people with disability – at the core of its vision for Australia.
Public recognition is growing that Australians with severe disability and their family carers deserve better support.
The Rudd Government has vested responsibility for delivering on its plans for disability services in one of its new team, Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten.
The Rudd Government has promised to deliver a National Disability Strategy and a National Disability and Mental Health Employment Strategy, both of which will require the cooperation of State and Territory governments.
It has set up an inquiry into how to increase investment into the chronically under-funded disability sector and it has promised to revamp the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement, the national policy and funding framework for services to 220,000 Australians with severe disability.
The transcript for his speech is at http://www.billshorten.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/billshorten.nsf/content/right_to_ordinary_life_01apr09.htm