By ALESHA CAPONE
HILLSIDE residents Teresa and Wayne Baker only want the best for their adult daughter, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
The couple belongs to the Victorian Advocacy League for People with a Disability (VALID), which has launched a petition calling on the State Government to re-think plans to raise the fees of people living in state-run supported disability care.
The Bakers are also part of a class action led by Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service, which is taking the State Government to VCAT for discriminating against people with a disability.
As of 1 December, the government wants to take 75 per cent of the disability support pension from people living in Department of Human Services accommodation.
At present, the government takes around 50 per cent of the pension.
In May, Opposition Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins described the fee rise as “disgusting”.
Mr and Mrs Baker said their 35-year-old daughter would be one of around 2500 people across the state affected by the government’s proposal.
“They will be out of pocket, because there are lots of things they need and won’t be able to afford – she can’t go without her medicine,” Mrs Baker said.
“Whatever is left of the monthly pension, our daughter is going to be below the poverty line because she won’t be able to afford everyday essential items.
“It is heart-breaking to think your child will be under the poverty line.”
Mr Baker said the government needed to come clean on what exactly the 75 per cent fee hike would cover.
According to VALID, the government increase would take around $549 of the $733 fortnightly disability pension, leaving recipients well below the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research’s weekly poverty line of $237 for single people.
As a result, the Bakers are worried their daughter will not be able to afford her weekly chemist’s bill, incontinence aids and disability day placement program.
A State Government spokesperson said the introduction of the new fee model “will ensure fees charged in DHS-run disability residential services are consistent across locations and comparable to those already operating in community sector-provided disability accommodation”.
See http:www.facebook.com/FighttheHike or http://www.valid.org.au to sign the VALID petition.
