But the thousands of people rallying in front of NSW Parliament House one Wednesday wanted only one thing - a fair go for people with disabilities. About 2000 people from across the state converged on Macquarie St, Sydney, to protest against the State Government's planned cuts to disability programs due to be rolled out from January.
Beneath the hot midday sun they gathered - many in wheelchairs and walking frames - singing and chanting, and waving placards and pictures of sad blue faces. Together they called on the Government to reverse its decision to slash funding to many young disabled adults in post-school programs from January.
The Government announced in July controversial plans to overhaul the sector, which parents, service providers, clients and advocates say will cut up to half their day support services.
More than 200 people from the Illawarra joined the rally, which came just two weeks after a similar protest in Wollongong. Unanderra mum Eva Dorahy - whose 22-year-old daughter Lisa has Angelman Syndrome - fears Lisa will lose up to two days of support under the changes, leaving her family to pick up the pieces.
"The little that we have got they are going to take away. That's the sad thing. It's just not fair on anyone," Mrs Dorahy said yesterday.
The decision by the Carr Government to cut funding to disabled people is the greatest act of bastardry by (NSW Premier) Bob Carr and the Labor Party," he said.
"We should be helping and not hurting people with disabilities in this state."
The funding cuts are cruel and unfair!
Opposition Disabilities spokesman John Ryan said the funding for post-school programs should not be cut but allowed to grow as it had done for the past eight years.
Australian Services Union NSW president Sally McManus said the reforms would also lead to job losses.
Representatives from the National Party, the Greens and Democrats also addressed the rally - but no one from Labor faced up to the crowd.
NSW Disabilities Minister Carmel Tebbutt later spoke briefly to a small group of advocates, including Homelink convenor John Bilboe and Greenacres CEO Neil Preston.
Homelink is the association representing parents of disabled children in the Illawarra. A spokesman for Ms Tebbutt said the Government did not intend to cut funding but to give people long-term certainty, long-term programs and employment opportunities where possible.
Mr Bilboe and Mr Preston criticised Ms Tebbutt for failing to answer direct questions.
"From the parents' perspective the mood was black. We felt we were being slapped in the face once again," Mr Bilboe said. Mr Bilboe presented Mr Ryan with a petition bearing the signatures of 4500 concerned Illawarra residents, and Mr Preston said further action was being planned.
We are not prepared to go back to the dark ages. This has to be reversed," Mr Preston said. "We are hoping that the community sees that we shouldn't be taking money from people with disabilities. These people have had it tough all their lives (and) there is already more unmet need than we can cope with."
By CHANTAL RUMBLE posted 24 September 04
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