Senator Anne Urquhart, Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate, Senator for Tasmania & Chris Lynch, Labor Candidate for Braddon, 9 March 2022

Morrison Sets The Lawyers Onto NDIS Participants

The Morrison government is adding to the misery of Tasmanians on the National Disability Insurance Scheme who after being hard-hit by COVID restrictions now have to endure being cut-off from NDIS financial support.

The Morrison government is removing an ever-increasing number of participants from the NDIS or slashing their funding and backing in its decisions by hiring an army of lawyers to fight appeals in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The number of appeals before the AAT has increased by over 300 per cent.

Labor Senator for Tasmania, Senator Anne Urquhart, and Labor Candidate for Braddon, Chris Lynch, are highlighting the case of Richard Hamon, 62, a former teacher from Devonport. He has sought help from the Senator’s office after repeated approaches to the National Disability Insurance Agency and Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce.

Richard is legally blind and was receiving support for travel to attend disability related appointments. But a review by the NDIA held last September without his knowledge resulted in his funding being cut for the second time in a year. The cumulative cuts total 40 per cent of his core funding.

He has appealed to the AAT and the NDIA has blocked a review until that tribunal hearing in May.

Chris Lynch said: “If someone has been assessed as having a permanent disability, why the need to review every six or 12 months?”

“Reviews should be to increase supports not as an excuse to cut someone off from their funding.

“The Morrison government is spending millions in hiring extra lawyers to defend appeals from the flood of people who’ve lost NDIS package funding.

“Some have approached me, and I know of at least a dozen in the North-West on an NDIS plan who’ve been hurt by this heartless process,” Mr Lynch said.

Richard needs computer equipment suited to his needs, instead he is losing financial support and the stress is damaging his health and creating strains in his personal life.

“The NDIA has spent tens of thousands of dollars on trying to intimidate me out of this,” Richard said.

“It’s all about coercive control.

“There have been nine directions hearings before the AAT in 18 months, engaging an instructing lawyer and a barrister.

“So, how much do you think a senior barrister from Battery Point is charging?”

Senator Urquhart said Labor, if elected, would launch an investigation into the extra legal fees the Morrison government is paying out to external lawyers.

“Not only is the Morrison government hiring extra outside lawyers, but they’re also paying exorbitant fees,” Senator Urquhart said.

“And they’re using the heavy hand of the law to pressure NDIS participants to accept cuts to their packages.

“It is a shameful way of trying to reduce the NDIS budget costs. It hurts vulnerable people financially and emotionally.

“Chris Lynch and I express our full support for today’s HACSU rally in Devonport and hope the Morrison government listens to these concerns,” Senator Urquhart said.

Richard Hamon’s contact details are available through Senator Urquhart’s office.

Media release – Leanne Minshull, The Local Party for the Senate in Tasmania, 9 March 2022

Palmer and Kelly should be done for stalking

Clive Palmer and Craig Kelly should be done for stalking

The debacle of the United Australia Party signing up members, including Senator Eric Abetz has exposed major gaps in how we regulate politicians and political parties.

“if Craig Kelly or Clive Palmer got your details off the internet and started emailing and texting you, they would probably be done for stalking – or at least harassment.” Said Leanne Minshull, independent Senate Candidate for The Local Party.

“Because they are politicians and are acting on behalf of a political party – there appears to be no recourse for people. The AEC have said if falls outside their scope – so whose scope does this fall within?”

“Enough is enough – we need to stop rich and powerful men doing exactly as they please – it just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore”

“Australia needs:

  • A federal anti corruption body
  • Truth in political advertising laws
  • A cap on donations and real time donations disclosure
  • Tighter legislation covering the behaviour of political parties.

“If elected, I will work with other independents and crossbenchers to ensure we make this happen during the term of the next parliament.”

Media release – Todd Dudley, Tasmanian Senate Candidate, Sustainable Australia Party, 9 March 2022

Sustainable Australia Party supports saving UTAS Campus from overdevelopment

“There has been inadequate community consultation about the UTAS plan and the views of UTAS students and staff have not been properly taken into account.”

The Sustainable Australia Party has called for the UTAS Sandy Bay Campus to be maintained as a high quality educational facility. The current UTAS plan is to move the university to dispersed locations in the Hobart CBD and build around 2,700 residences and a ‘tourism precinct’ on the Sandy Bay Campus site.

The scale of the proposed development for Sandy Bay Campus has raised numerous planning concerns related to overdevelopment including parking, traffic congestion, loss of remnant bushland, stormwater management and loss of amenity for local residents.

Sustainable Australia Party Senate Candidate Todd Dudley said: “There has been inadequate community consultation about the UTAS plan and the views of UTAS students and staff have not been properly taken into account.

“As a result, there is increasing community unease and opposition to the UTAS move and development plan. Many people don’t understand why you would vacate a highly desirable location at Sandy Bay with its open space and bushland for a disaggregated inner city alternative. It looks like a land grab by the property industry and there needs to be a comprehensive independent enquiry into the whole proposal,” Mr Dudley added. | Ends