Protest taken to minister’s office
“I’ve lost my sight, what else are you going to take from me?”
“Not here for a pedicure.”
“We shouldn’t be penniless but Pennyless.”
The message from those gathered outside Disabilities Minister Penny Simmonds’ Invercargill office on Thursday was clear: they were there to fight for their rights.
Around 30 members of Southland’s disability community picketed outside the minister’s electorate office protesting a pause on disability funding that’s essentially left them without the tools that give them independence.
Last week, Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, announced on Facebook
that it was pausing individualised funding while it made changes to its purchasing rules and equipment modifications services.
The announcement came without warning, “blindsiding” many.
This individualised funding gives people with disabilities a set budget to pay for the things or services they need to live independently – recognising that this looks different for every person.
At the weekend, Whaikaha chief executive Paula Tesoriero apologised for the way the changes had been communicated.
The ministry is $65 million in the red and the pause will be in place until spending rules are tightened, officials say.
But advocates in the disability community say the ministry and Simmonds knew about the problems months ago. The National Party has put Simmonds on watch and the Labour Party is calling for her resignation. But Disabled United organiser Mike Peters said it was the coalition government’s error to fix.
“We need to focus on getting the cuts reversed, ” he said.
Speaking to the protesters, Peters said Disabled United was ready for a long fight and would not give up.
“Sometimes you start off small, but you keep going,” he said.
“We need to mobilise up and down the country. We will change this. We will win.”
Peters urged leaders to come forward, saying Thursday’s protest would be the first of many.
“We need to be doing this in Winton, and Gore, and Tuatapere,” he said.
“Disabled people live everywhere. Town and country.”
If changes to funding were needed, the Government should be discussing them with all members of the disabled community, Peters said, adding that those impacted
by decisions should be involved in making them.
Green Party co-convener for Invercargill and Southland Gordon McKewen read a statement on behalf of Green Party spokesperson for disability issues Kahurangi Carter.
“These budget cuts, implemented without consultation or consideration for those directly impacted, reveal a callous disregard for the wellbeing and autonomy of disabled individuals and our families,” Carter said.
The Cabinet has approved some additional funding to the ministry until the end of the financial year, but Simmonds said this wasn’t enough to reverse cuts.
“Even with the additional funding, there is still a real risk of them running out of funding,” she said.