13 December 2011

Minister Turia needs to be at the cabinet table

IHC congratulates Tariana Turia on her reappointment to the role of Minister for Disability Issues but is concerned that disabled New Zealanders are not represented at Cabinet.

“One in five New Zealanders have a disability. It makes no sense that disabled people’s interests are not represented at the highest political level,” says Trish Grant, Director of Advocacy at IHC.

“Minister Turia has in her first term as Minister for Disability Issues shown a real commitment and willingness to create a positive change in the lives of disabled people and their whanau. Her ability to make a real difference for them would be strengthened by being at the Cabinet table.“

IHC believes that the Minister for Disability Issues needs to be at the Cabinet table otherwise one in five New Zealanders have a limited political voice.

Disabled people and their families have been asking for an integrated whole of government response to their circumstances for some years now. Minister Turia’s other responsibilities as Minister of Whanau Ora and Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment, Health and Housing make her ideally placed to influence and prioritise this government approach.

ENDS

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