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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/02/disability-discrimination-commissioner-criticises-lifters-not-leaners-slogan
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| Disability discrimination commissioner condemns 'lifters, not leaners' slogan | Disability discrimination commissioner condemns 'lifters, not leaners' slogan |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Australia's outgoing disability discrimination commissioner, Graeme Innes, has denounced the government's rhetoric about lifters and leaners as a "facile concept" and accused tabloid media outlets of demonising people with disabilities. | Australia's outgoing disability discrimination commissioner, Graeme Innes, has denounced the government's rhetoric about lifters and leaners as a "facile concept" and accused tabloid media outlets of demonising people with disabilities. |
| In a speech to the National Press Club in his final week in the position, Innes also attacked the government for trying to water down racial discrimination laws at the same time as seeking to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution. | In a speech to the National Press Club in his final week in the position, Innes also attacked the government for trying to water down racial discrimination laws at the same time as seeking to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution. |
| He reflected on the nation's progress in making transport and buildings more accessible but said the community was still failing to provide jobs and deliver equal justice for people with disabilities. | He reflected on the nation's progress in making transport and buildings more accessible but said the community was still failing to provide jobs and deliver equal justice for people with disabilities. |
| Innes recounted his experience when he first sought a job as a lawyer but failed at 30 interviews within 12 months – "mostly because employers could not understand how a blind person could work as a lawyer". | Innes recounted his experience when he first sought a job as a lawyer but failed at 30 interviews within 12 months – "mostly because employers could not understand how a blind person could work as a lawyer". |
| He devoted a large portion of his speech to explaining the challenges people with disabilities faced as they sought to become "lifters" rather than "leaners". | He devoted a large portion of his speech to explaining the challenges people with disabilities faced as they sought to become "lifters" rather than "leaners". |
| This was a reference to budget speech delivered by the treasurer, Joe Hockey, in which he said Australia was "a nation of lifters, not leaners". | This was a reference to budget speech delivered by the treasurer, Joe Hockey, in which he said Australia was "a nation of lifters, not leaners". |
| "It's such a facile concept,” Innes told the audience in Canberra on Wednesday. | "It's such a facile concept,” Innes told the audience in Canberra on Wednesday. |
| “We all move from one role to the other dozens of times a day. When I walk down the street with [Innes’s wife] Maureen – and whichever street that is I couldn't be happier – I'm a leaner. I'm gaining guidance from her by holding her arm. But when that guidance stops, and at the end of a long hard day for her, I put my arm around her in a supportive cuddle, I become a lifter. | |
| "I prefer a more positive, and less judgmental society, where everyone's contribution is accepted and valued. I want entrances where everyone – not just people who use steps – can come in. I communicate with Auslan [sign language], so everyone – not just hearing people – can understand. | "I prefer a more positive, and less judgmental society, where everyone's contribution is accepted and valued. I want entrances where everyone – not just people who use steps – can come in. I communicate with Auslan [sign language], so everyone – not just hearing people – can understand. |
| "This makes a more inclusive, and more sustainable society. But many in society force people with disabilities to live within that leaner-lifter rubric, and we would be lifters, if there were not barriers in society which force us to be leaners. I have challenged it all my life, and will do so in this address." | |
| He told the story of a well-educated, successful accountant called Elliot who struggled to overcome basic accommodation and access barriers, including problems with airlines and an undersupply of accessible taxis. “Being a lifter was not impossible, but it was hard,” Innes said. | He told the story of a well-educated, successful accountant called Elliot who struggled to overcome basic accommodation and access barriers, including problems with airlines and an undersupply of accessible taxis. “Being a lifter was not impossible, but it was hard,” Innes said. |
| Innes said the introduction of the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) had brought disability more into mainstream conversation, allowing people with disability more choice and control "and the capacity to move from leaners to lifters". He congratulated the Abbott government for continuing the former government's rollout "in full and on time". | Innes said the introduction of the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) had brought disability more into mainstream conversation, allowing people with disability more choice and control "and the capacity to move from leaners to lifters". He congratulated the Abbott government for continuing the former government's rollout "in full and on time". |
| Innes, who raised concern last year about some of the signals from the government about possible changes to the NDIS rollout, said the assistant social services minister, Mitch Fifield, had “done a sterling job in the face of probably one of the toughest budgets that I can remember in my lifetime” in maintaining funding. He said the disability sector would continue to watch progress closely. | Innes, who raised concern last year about some of the signals from the government about possible changes to the NDIS rollout, said the assistant social services minister, Mitch Fifield, had “done a sterling job in the face of probably one of the toughest budgets that I can remember in my lifetime” in maintaining funding. He said the disability sector would continue to watch progress closely. |
| But Innes said there was much work to be done to improve community attitudes and the willingness of employers to hire people with disabilities. | But Innes said there was much work to be done to improve community attitudes and the willingness of employers to hire people with disabilities. |
| He took aim at News Corp's Daily Telegraph for its front-page coverage in May comparing the number of disability support pension recipients in New South Wales ("slackers") with the number of Australian soldiers wounded in war ("slouch hats"). | He took aim at News Corp's Daily Telegraph for its front-page coverage in May comparing the number of disability support pension recipients in New South Wales ("slackers") with the number of Australian soldiers wounded in war ("slouch hats"). |
| Innes said such journalism "demonised and diminished" people with disabilities. He noted that the 20% of the "slouch hats" who returned to Australia experienced mental illness. | Innes said such journalism "demonised and diminished" people with disabilities. He noted that the 20% of the "slouch hats" who returned to Australia experienced mental illness. |
| "The Tele gets it wrong on so many counts, and trashes the disability brand, but people with disabilities are the ones who pay the price and wear the damage," Innes said. | "The Tele gets it wrong on so many counts, and trashes the disability brand, but people with disabilities are the ones who pay the price and wear the damage," Innes said. |
| "The Tele pushes us back into the leaners corner, despite our best efforts to leave it. | "The Tele pushes us back into the leaners corner, despite our best efforts to leave it. |
| “We see retail chains who think it’s OK to sell T-shirts with 'retarde' across the front, when 'nigger' or 'slut' would not pass muster. Such language diminishes us, and we are viewed as either victims or heroes, when we should be viewed as agents of our own destiny.” | |
| Innes said airlines – apart from Qantas – still practised "wheelchair apartheid, with the two-wheelchair policy". | Innes said airlines – apart from Qantas – still practised "wheelchair apartheid, with the two-wheelchair policy". |
| He said the government was “absolutely right” to declare that the best form of welfare was a job, but the mantra was not backed up by a jobs plan. | He said the government was “absolutely right” to declare that the best form of welfare was a job, but the mantra was not backed up by a jobs plan. |
| And people with disabilities comprised just 2.9% of the government workforce despite making up 15% of the working-age population. Innes suggested encouraging employers to embrace targets to make it safer to venture off the disability support payment and move into work, and each politician should be offered an extra staff member if they employed a person with a disability. | And people with disabilities comprised just 2.9% of the government workforce despite making up 15% of the working-age population. Innes suggested encouraging employers to embrace targets to make it safer to venture off the disability support payment and move into work, and each politician should be offered an extra staff member if they employed a person with a disability. |
| Innes called for effective incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities, pointing to New South Wales's example in providing a payroll tax rebate for this purpose. Underlining the importance of setting targets, Innes said: “If you don't have numbers and work towards those numbers, it’s just not going to happen.” | Innes called for effective incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities, pointing to New South Wales's example in providing a payroll tax rebate for this purpose. Underlining the importance of setting targets, Innes said: “If you don't have numbers and work towards those numbers, it’s just not going to happen.” |
| The age discrimination commissioner, Susan Ryan, will also act in the role of disability discrimination commissioner at the expiry of Innes’s term. | The age discrimination commissioner, Susan Ryan, will also act in the role of disability discrimination commissioner at the expiry of Innes’s term. |
| The attorney general, George Brandis, defended the loss of disability discrimination as a full-time, standalone position at the Human Rights Commission, saying dual roles were common practice. But the Greens senator Rachel Siewert said it was “irresponsible” at a time of major changes affecting people with disability. | The attorney general, George Brandis, defended the loss of disability discrimination as a full-time, standalone position at the Human Rights Commission, saying dual roles were common practice. But the Greens senator Rachel Siewert said it was “irresponsible” at a time of major changes affecting people with disability. |