Politics revealed its truly ugly and immature face this week when two state premiers refused to provide their share of funding for the long-awaited National Disability Insurance Scheme, casting uncertainty and doubt into the lives of society’s most vulnerable members.
For disabled people and their families, this was a cruel act which appeared designed to mine political capital by embarrassing the already embattled federal government.
But what the premiers have actually achieved is a bad name not just for themselves but for the ungracious conduct of politicians in general.
When so many families’ hopes and aspirations are lifted up only to be dropped again as one side of politics seeks to undermine the other, shows how low our leaders are prepared to stoop in pursuit of their own ends.
With polls consistently telling us the federal government will be voted out at the next election, what possible gain is there to be made by turning the parlous state of disability services into a political football?
Is the Coalition so destructive it cannot see how this petty horse trading over such a vitally important reform will reflect poorly on itself?
Is the lust for power so intense they are prepared to hurt people who are already suffering?
The disabled are the very last people who should be caught up in politics.
Mr O’Farrell and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman ought to hang their heads in shame for adding to the woes of the already overburdened disabled people in our community.
