25 September 2012

Apology Overdue for Institutionalisation of Disabled People

CCS Disability Action strongly supports the Disability Rights Commissioner, Paul Gibson’s, call for an apology for the institutionalisation of disabled people.

CCS Disability Action, Disability Partnership Leader, Peter Wilson is clear that institutionalisation is wrong.

“Institutionalisation shuts people away from their family, friends and the community. I agree with Paul that institutionalisation caused great harm to disabled people and their families.”

“In the old institutions, disabled people were disempowered and spent their lives isolated from the community. All the important decisions were made by non-disabled staff who controlled the lives of the people living there. There was abuse and neglect with few opportunities to leave and live in the community.”

Peter is also clear that institutionalisation occurred because the voice and rights of disabled people were ignored.

“This is why the Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities and disabled leadership is so important. We need to listen to what disabled people say they want, instead of making decisions for them.”

CCS Disability Action wants to join the Disability Rights Commissioner in starting a national conversation about apologising for institutionalisation. They also want the Government to look at modern practices of institutionalisation, such as the large number of people under the age of 65 living in aged care facilities.

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage