Open Letter to Minister Mark Butler

Dear Mark, 

We, the aged and disability community of Australia, and those who care for and about us, are not your scapegoats. Please do not try to pit us against each other.

We know that taxpayers are hurting. Able-bodied Australians—just like us—are desperate for financial relief for themselves and their families. We understand that the government must address the incredibly burdensome cost-of-living crisis occurring under your leadership.

We also know we are seen as an easy target—a community usually too exhausted to fight. While we weren’t shocked by your April 22nd announcements, we are deeply disappointed. Now, we are simply too terrified not to drop everything and fight back.

A warning before you threw a grenade into our worlds would have at least allowed us to ensure our most vulnerable had support standing by.

If you must do this—if our well-being is truly less important than overseas political trips, billion-dollar consultant fees, fossil fuel subsidies, and corporate tax loopholes—then face us.

We stand with you against the "shonksters and fraudsters." We hate them too. We also agree that support workers shouldn't let participants fall from wheelchairs while scrolling on their phones. Those were your words, Mr. Butler, and we certainly hope someone sent for help in that scenario, despite you making it sound like an everyday occurrence.

But stripping away our individual access to the community won't fix those problems. We shouldn't be forced to drag five strangers with us to the dentist, the hairdresser, or the post office just to meet our basic needs, which is exactly what your proposed group community access model will force us to do.

Therefore, we demand a halt to the June 30 deadline until we have a genuine seat at the table. If you intend to destroy our safety nets to save your budget, we demand the right to describe the exact pain you are causing in a way only those with first-hand experience can. You must let us outline the bare minimum supports required to protect the lives and mental health of the people you are impacting. Let Australians decide if you have the right to be this cruel.

Regarding offloading to the states: we are willing to stand by and watch you attempt this, but do not take away our support until you're done arguing amongst yourselves.

You promised, “Nothing about us, without us".

Face us properly.

Signed, 

Australia's aged and disabled community and those who love and support us.