The Squeaky Wheel

I don't like whinge posts, I really don't but I think more needs to be said about the inequality in the disability world. I get better discounts for movies being with Telstra than being a carer, tell me what is right or fair about that picture?

The classification by the government of 'high income earners' is obscene. Where any household earning above $60k a year is excluded from a myriad of discounts and payments. While I don't exactly think we should be giving 'handouts' to the rich either, the means test is now just an income and assets test. It does not test your means at all. You can be earning $100,000 a year but if our outgoings are $98,000 a year because of necessary bills for food, education and therapy, you're not exactly the millionaire.

Being above the magical line cuts you off to more than just the Carer Payment. It denies you the pension card which then denies you access to discount energy bills, discount medicines, discount or in some cases free stamp duty, discount movie tickets, car registration the list goes on. I earn nothing, zip, zero dollars a year. What is my compensation for giving up any idea of a career of my own that could improve our family finances? Free entry to the zoo. I feel so rewarded. I get better rewards with Flybuys, and I rarely shop at Coles any more.

How is the 'household income' indicative of how much I sacrifice to put my childs needs first and everything else second? Sorry boss, I need to leave early because my child has had a seizure at school, yes I'm well aware he had a seizure last week and therapy the week before but I really need to leave this time too. Wrong answer, you're fired for being too unreliable. Is the teacher meant to leave the class and ride in the Ambulance to the ER? Maybe after school care will be up to date with all the speech therapy and OT techniques. Yeh, and pigs might fly.

I sacrifice my time and my future prospects so that my sons future prospects are brighter. So that instead of being a burden on society because he has no coping mechanisms, he may actually go to university and be a valuable and productive member of society. Think of the tax savings I'm giving you, the Government. Instead of needing government funding to stay in care for the rest of his life, I am spending my time to turn him into a tax paying citizen. And you think free admittance to the Aquarium is justified reparations?

Shame on you Martin Foley!