greens 1 5b plan to boost accessibility

Greens $1.5b plan to boost accessibility

Australia

Public spaces across Australia would be made more accessible for people living with disability through a $1.5 billion fund under a Greens proposal.

Another $400 million would be spent on making public transport more accessible.

Acting Greens leader Jordon Steele-John says the plan comes at a time when half of disabled people are unemployed and 45 per cent live at or below the poverty line.

Intellectually disabled people also have a life expectancy 26 years below those who aren’t disabled, the senator said.

“That is unacceptable in 2019 and we must act urgently to address these underlying issues,” he told reporters in Perth on Friday.

“What we are announcing today is nothing more or less than a civil rights package. It aims to break down barriers that have been created in Australian society due to deep, discriminatory attitudes.”

Along with a big investment in infrastructure, the plan includes ensuring the National Disability Insurance Scheme is fully-funded, properly staffed and accountable to the people it supports.

The Greens also want 500,000 fully-accessible public and community homes to be built under a federal housing trust.

Funding for communications and education programs are also part of its plan, along with creating a 15 per cent disability employment target for the public sector by 2030.

Senator Steele-John said the blueprint is a call to action for the major parties.

“I present today an opportunity for Australia’s major parties to get on board with a transformative, social justice agenda for the liberation of over four million fellow Australians,” he said.

Labor disability spokeswoman Carole Brown said it’s up to the federal government to show leadership and work with the states and state services to improve accessibility and inclusion.

She said that’s what a Labor government would do.

“Labor’s first priority will be working to get the NDIS back on track,” the senator told AAP on Friday.

“We will also be making sure that our significant investments in schools, housing, health and hospitals are accessible and inclusive for Australians with disability.”

Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher’s office has been contacted for comment.