A review of the Impairment tables have been undertaken by the federal government. The impairment Tables help manage the DSP (disability Support Pension). AFDO has made a submission to the senate committee enquiringly about the changes. They have some concerns about the changes.

AFDO's submission to the Committee can be found Here.

For more information about the changes, please look Here

As part of its commitment to a National Disability Strategy, the Federal government has worked with states and territories to produce an Implementation Plan. AFDO provided the attached comments to government during a consultation ahead of the next COAG meeting to be held in early 2012.

The federal government recently asked for comments on the Roadmap for Mental Health Reform. Attached is AFDO's submission.

The Federal government is currently looking to combine several anti-discrimination laws - the Disability Discrimination Act, the Age Discrimination Act, the Racial Discrimination Act and the Sec Discrimination Act - to form one law. AFDO has made a submission to the government about what the changes should include.

If you have any questions about this submission, please contact Leah Hobson, Nat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 31st January 2012

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) today congratulated Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott for clearly endorsing the idea for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). However, Mr Abbott’s statement that the NDIS should wait until the Budget had a “strong surplus” drew stern criticism.

“At the moment, many people with disability are struggling to get even their basic rights met,” said Ms Lesley Hall, AFDO CEO. “There are people living without crucial equipment, such as hearing aids, or personal supports, like a worker to help you shower more than a couple of times a week. These people are sick of waiting for the things other Australians take for granted, and we challenge Mr Abbott to tell us why they should.”

For Immediate Release January 16th 2012

Law Clipping the Wings of People with Disability

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) has called for an overhaul of disability discrimination laws in light of Friday’s Federal Court ruling in King vs. Jetstar. The ruling found that while Jetstar had discriminated against Ms Sheila King, a wheelchair user, by not allowing her on a flight which already had two other wheelchair users, it had done so for reasons of unjustifiable hardship. Jetstar argued that a higher cap on the number of wheelchair users per flight would lead to longer turnaround times and ultimately, fewer flights.

AFDO End of Year Update

Below is some information about the work undertaken by AFDO staff and AFDO representatives over the past year. If you would like to find out more about any of this work, or to discuss other issues of concern, please contact our office on 03 9662 3324 or office@afdo.org.au.

National Disability Insurance Scheme

In February 2011, the Productivity Commission released their draft Report into Disability Care and Support, sparking a second round of consultations. AFDO conducted consultations in rural and regional Australia thanks to a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Affairs and Indigenous Affairs. Some of the grant money was given to other organizations to consult within their local networks.