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- Will accessible housing get a mention
Will accessible housing get a mention
at the National Press Club debate today?
Nic Stuart
April 16, 2025
The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story
Liberal NDIS spokesperson Michael Sukkar on the job yesterday
Michael Sukkar’s a very busy man
It’s the perennial dilemma. Do you want a capable person too busy to focus full attention on the NDIS, or someone less sought after who can pay attention to the NDIS exclusively?
The shortage of affordable housing has soared to prominence as one of the critical issues of this election campaign. That’s great. As a result, Liberal housing spokesperson Michael Sukkar has shot to prominence.
What’s not so great is that Sukkar also shadows the NDIS and Social Services portfolios. Oh, and he’s Manager of Opposition Business. Oh, and after a 4.5% swing against him in 2022, he needs to pay attention to his own seat as well. At the last election Sukkar only managed to hold his eastern Melbourne electorate of Deakin by just 500 votes.
There’s been a redistribution since then (and with Victoria’s state Labor government on the nose) there’s no indication of any threat Sukkar will lose the seat. But he still holds what is, theoretically, the most marginal seat in parliament.
This might explain why the desperate need for accessible housing is being overlooked in the election campaign.
At lunchtime today Sukkar will debate Labor’s Housing Minister Clare O’Neill at the National Press Club. There he’ll be besieged with questions and housing will, once again, be the big issue. But just as on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday night, disability housing will be lucky to get a mention.
It’s the perennial problem.
Both sides have recognised disability as an important issue. That’s why the Liberals allocated the portfolio to somebody perceived as highly capable. Unfortunately, and exactly because Sukkar is seen as that way, he’s responsible for other complex portfolios as well.
Disability gets shoved to the sidelines.
Today abilityNEWS will definitely be speaking to Sukkar at the Press Club before his speech today. And - as long as the answers don’t run on for too long - we might even manage to get a televised question in.
We’ll be bringing you his answers tomorrow. Regretably, the mainstream media probably won’t be focusing on disability. They have other fish to fry.
The Briefing
Staying safe online (courtesy NDSP Plan Managers)
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By NDSP Plan Managers
Scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals using sophisticated digital tactics. That's why it's important to always use simple measures to protect yourself online. Protect personal information and don't share phones or computers; choose unique passwords and two-factor authentication; double-check before paying online; check who you've authorised to see your NDIS details, and be cautious sharing personal details to avoid fraud and misuse of your NDIS accounts.
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The Diary
Accessibility Workshop for CALD Community Workers
This upcoming workshop, hosted by The City of Canterbury Bankstown, is tailored for community workers who support the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community, to help them provide more inclusive services and supports.
Date: 5 May 2025
Location: Bryan Brown Theatre, 80 Rickard Rd Bankstown (NSW)
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM