Media Releases by The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Making the Disability Support Pension fairer
The Australian Government is reforming the Disability Support Pension (DSP) to make it simpler, fairer and sustainable for those who need it. The DSP is…
Marysville family off to a fresh start with a new home
Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne and Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten today paid tribute to a Marysville family for their determination to…
National Summit on challenges for people with hearing impairments
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today officially opened the Deafness Forum of Australia’s 6th National Deafness Sector Summit, in Sydney. As…
New brochure to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to use disability abuse hotline
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today launched a new brochure to encourage indigenous Australians to access the National Disability Abuse and…
Good News Week comments about children with autism just not funny
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten has condemned comments made about children with autism on the ‘Good News Week’ program last night, but has commended…
Adelaide roundtable hears concerns of people with disability
The Rudd Government would continue to work for better services for people with disability and to ensure they got fair treatment in the workplace and…
Special Olympics open in Adelaide
The Minister for Sport Kate Ellis and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten today joined more than 850 athletes to open the ninth National Special…
Human Rights Commission upholds right of people with hearing impairments to access cinema
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten has welcomed a decision by the Australian Human Rights Commission to deny a request from major cinemas chains for…
Younger People with Disability in Residential Aged Care program
The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten MP, have today released for public consultation the Rudd Government’s draft legislation…
Consultations begin on a national disability care and support scheme
Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin, the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten today welcomed the start of the…
Statement on Christine Nixon
Christine Nixon is doing an excellent job as head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority. Her hard work on the ground, and ability…
Autism advocates take to the streets to raise awareness
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten has praised hundreds of children with Autism, their families and carers who have marched through Melbourne to raise awareness…
Better care for young people with disability
Over 190 young people with disability were moved out of, or were diverted from entering residential aged care facilities between June 2006 and December 2008,…
New autism services for young children in Brisbane
Young children with autism spectrum disorders can now access specialist early childhood services vital for them to reach their full potential at a new, autism-specific…
New residency rules for Disability Support Pensioners
The Australian Government will crack down on people on the Disability Support Pension (DSP) who live permanently overseas but return to Australia every 13 weeks…
Pole position for people with disability at the Grand Prix
People with lifelong disability and their attendant carers will find it easier to attend this weekend’s Melbourne Formula-One Grand Prix with organisers deciding to accept…
Families in Dandenong get a new playground
Over 500 children and their families in Dandenong, will enjoy the benefits of a new playground unveiled today by the not-for profit organisation, the Queen…
Jobs Fund supports Victorian bushfire reconstruction
The Rudd Government today announced more than $2.6 million for bushfire-affected areas in Victoria under Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund. Minister for…
Supporting playgroups for children and families
The World’s Biggest Playgroup Day is a time to celebrate playgroups and increase awareness of their work in communities across Australia. The Rudd Government is…
New Kitchen to Benefit Bushfire-Affected Communities in Gippsland
A new kitchen at the CATS Cricket Club in Traralgon South has hosted the first of many dinners for locals in the bushfire-affected area. Parliamentary…
Mayberry boosts Australia’s medal haul
The Minister for Sport Kate Ellis today congratulated Marty Mayberry on his silver medal in the standing downhill at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics today. The…
Court Decision Upholds Rights of People with Guide Dogs to Catch Taxis
A decision by a NSW Court to fine a taxi driver for refusing to carry a guide dog is a win for the rights of…
Swift start to Australia’s Winter Paralympics campaign
The Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, has congratulated Cameron Rahles-Rahbula on taking out the bronze medal for standing slalom at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics today.…
Birthday Girl Gives Historic Gift To Nation
The Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, today congratulated Jessica Gallagher on winning a bronze medal in the vision-impaired slalom today at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics.…
Disability standards for access to premises
The Australian Government today launched the Disability Standards for Access to Premises, which for the first time set the minimum access requirements for people with…