Disability Support Pensioners Australia Inc.
ARB076023544 AOO28385N
National Office
P.O. Box 2092. WERRIBEE. VICTORIA. AUSTRALIA
___________________________________________________________________
WELFARE SUBMISSION
1. DSPpenioners who are unable to work have the respect shown to them as
Citizens who can talk for themselves in there needs to what suits the.
2. Increase the DSPpension to a level that does cover items of essential
day to day items, such as.
Utility Bills - Allied medical services - medical equipment - support in
having a frige to hold medications must be kept refrigerated.
2b. Commonwealth Gov' to give States & Teritory Gov'ts more funds to build
more Public Housing to retain 25% of pension towards rental, also extra
assistance to those who are forced to pay private rental out of their
Pension which leaves very little resourses to use for other essential
items. As follows:-
3. Medical Quipment to be provided by Dept to DSPpensioner on same basis as
the Dept o Veteran Affairs, so that when a Member is finished with it it is
returned to the Dept for use of another person (This is advocated for so as
to cut down waiting lists, and stops the DSPpensioner from further
suffering when in need of medical equipement to be serviced in their own homes.
4. Costmetic Health items to be assessed every 18 months eg:- (Artificial
limbs & their maintance, operical glass eye, together with Specticales &
hair pieces, for those who have suffered from head injuries and in need of
this item as an on going one, special Shoes, back supports and braces,
wtih arm support and wrist supports.
5. Medical equipment eg:- Electric beds for automatic lifting of back
injured person as well as a fractured netck. Recliner chairs for the same
comfort to not worse injury already sustained. An electric wheel-chair for
those in need of them and walking frames, sticks, exteneded toilet seats,
and shower stools, Hand rails, ramps all installed in the home of the
preosn requerinng them from a treating doctors request for this support.
6. Sufficient funds in the DSPpension to afford medications that are
administered by a treating doctor/psychiatrist. Medications that are
required on a long term basis that are not at the PBH costs be given
special permission to the implimented to this person who is in need to
enable them to afford these essential medications.
7. Centrelink, be placed back into the hands of the Government and
services which have vanished be implimented again so as to be more humane
than just being a number on a file, but be more personalised in ensuring
that a DSPpensioners needs are met in the correct way.
8. The issue of reaching the 20 points system is a real concern to those
who are trying to get onto a DSPpension, and yet being punished because of
their pay-out without and spend all their payment from a compensiont
pay-out to eventually live in poverty before they can claim a benefit to
live is a very in-humane way. Once establishement is done that this person
has paid for thier won home and other essentials in this time of living
then to penalise them of a benefit is totally unfair.
9. A DSPpensioner who is voluntary whishing to return to the workplace be
given full support in wya of travelling to and from work expenses together
with funds to purchase appropriate cothes for their job interview, and in
the event of securing a job, and also in the future in the event of failure
of this job that an automatic return to the DSPpension upon a doctors
recommendation and services required to support this person be done by a
support Organisation working in with the doctor's paitent, to ensure that
their needs are met to medical requirements, plus services they still may
require even thought they wish to return to work.
10. a DSPpensioner who wishes voluntarily to return to the workplace and is
in need of suppport in learning a trade or whatever their desire is have
the Specialists at learning these trades and skills. To Bannish all kinds
of form of 'slave labour' to the vunerable and make room for a DSPpensioner
who wishes to reutnr to the work-place to gain funds to start up their own
business in their own way of expertise from their past.
11. The Activity Test within the Social Security Act and plenary section
be Banished from this Act, as i tis only creating more poverty as those who
are taken off the 'Centrelink Computer for failure to comply with their
Reguations and living within the community with no funds is poving to be
injurious to themselves as well as the rest of the community. No-one in
this country should be living with no funds in their pockets or bank
accounts. It is a Human Right to have the above basics in life to live
decently and acceptably within our society.
12. To have a quick method of gaining Legal Aid for representation to a
DSPpensioner at a 'Tribunal Appeals Board is vital' plus it should be built
on incorporating local Community Legal Centres at all levels.
13.EMEERGENCY RELIEF to be increased to agencies so that
DSPpensioners who are signing contract to repya these food vouchers etc, be
stopped and a larger amount of funds be given under emergency relief to
solve the financial problem rather than just a bandaid measure. All
contracts being signed by DSPpensioners be canelled to ensure that
DSPpensioners are not getting into further poverty be secured as a
DSPpensioners Right to access what is needed at that time of
identifying 'emergency relief' funds be increased to Agencies to enable
them to give more 'true relief' than what is presently administered, and
not embarrass our Members across ths country at having to beg for support
and have to come back in 3mths which is happening and they suffer badly in
the meantime while waiting to receive help.
14. GST AND ITS IMPACT ON DSPpensioners in their purchasing
power. ( a letter/fax has been sent to the Governor-General ) requesting
intervention to Gov't on this matter till proper investigation is done to
determine real costs. It is believed that if GST is not taken away from
basic essential items that is required by a DSPpensioner to live, then it
would be a very injurious 'Act' and encourage more crime - robberies -
violence because of sheer desperation.
15. A substantial increase int he DSPpension in the way of funds so as to
be (within the keeping of the UN Human Rights Declaration that Australia
Commonwealth Government has signed and help bring those living in poverty
up and out of it with a view to a better day to day life-style and a means
of regaining self-esteem and confidence to associate with people.
DSP Australia Inc, believe that should all the above be done then this
would be a way to helping those whoa re living in poverty rise out of
it. It would also take the begging environment that Members live in away
and give back dignity to its Members.
An increase of at least $100.00 per fortnight is saught to bring
DSPpensioners up to a standard of decent living only if the above services
are also implimented as well, this can be done by the Commonwealth
Government, States and Territory Governments helping eac other ensure that
the above is implimented as a safety measure for DSPpensioners across
Australia.
This submission to the ' Welfare Reform Review Committee has been done in a
very simplish easy understandable manny for total understanding of the
basic needs for DSPpensioners.
DSP Australia Inc is seeking support from other Community groups within our
Country in this Submission and in the event of anything that others think
they can add to it then it will be greatly appreciated.
DSP Australia Inc can be contacted if there are further inquiries to our
submission, we would be pleased to talk with those who are genuinely
interested.
We do look forward to feedback on this submission and an invitation to be
furhter involved in any Policy Decision making that would affect our Members.
sincerely,
judi-ann Leggetts
DSP Australia Inc.
ARB076023544 AOO28385N
email:
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>judiann@vicnet<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.n
et.au
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dsp
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