24 July 2002

Labour pledges strong disability focus

Labour has pledged to retain its strong focus on disability issues and continue to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Launching Labour’s disability policy today, Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson said Labour’s approach was based on a commitment to human rights, partnership and inclusion.

“Significant progress has been made in the last three years. The portfolio of Minister for Disability Issues has been created and the New Zealand Disability Strategy has been released, with a comprehensive action plan. Our 2002 policy is based on continued implementation of that strategy.”

Ruth Dyson said Labour had established an Office for Disability Issues as part of its strong commitment to the whole-of-government approach of the disability strategy. She said Labour’s priorities in the next three years included to:

- ensure that a disability perspective is included in all relevant government policy proposals, and that legislation and public information is available in accessible formats;

- continue to reduce the anomalies in services received by people whose impairments have different causes; and

- develop consistent policies in relation to paid family caregivers.

Ms Dyson said Labour would also retain vocational services and carer support/respite care as a key priority; ensure that equipment services are a priority for future funding increases; develop an integrated needs assessment and service coordination process across government departments; and introduce changes, where necessary, to ensure that the Building Act and Local Government Act are consistent with the disability strategy.

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