Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today we recognise in this chamber the International Day of People with Disability. It is therefore opportune to once again inform the Senate of the very good work done by the Politician Adoption Scheme in Western Australia. This is a scheme of which I have been a part since 1999, when I was fortunate enough to be adopted by the Franklin family. How the scheme works is that a family with a child with a disability adopts a member of parliament and thereby engages that member of parliament in the various experiences they go through and the challenges they face.

As I say, I was adopted in 1999 by Stephen Franklin and his family. Stephen has Prader-Willi syndrome and is a very entertaining young man and no mean artist. I have seen some of the good work he has done. During the catch-ups we have had over the years, I have seen a very interesting personality in this young man. But I have also seen in the Franklin family a great deal of love and affection, and that is what has brought them through the challenges that they have faced. I refer to Stephen’s mum and dad, Carol and Norm Franklin, his sister, Kristy, and his brother, Darren, all of whom I have been lucky enough to get to know over the years.

It is somewhat sad that one of the aspects of leaving the Senate is that I will no longer be an adopted politician, but what I am very happy about is the way the scheme has grown in Western Australia. It is bipartisan. When I was adopted in 1999, there were some 20 members of parliament involved, and now there are 42. It peaked at 67 but there has been a drop because of parliamentarians leaving parliament. I urge those who are incoming to consider becoming part of this worthwhile scheme. It is run by the Developmental Disability Council of Western Australia, and they do a great job. I have been urging other jurisdictions to adopt this scheme because I think this is something which could work nationally to inform parliamentarians, at the federal and state and territory levels, of just what a family go through when they have a child with a disability. It certainly opened my eyes and I know it has opened the eyes of my colleagues who have been involved in the scheme in Western Australia. You just cannot beat seeing that real-life experience in those families.

There has been much work done in relation to the disability sector over the years, but there is still much, much more work that has to be done. When I was in cabinet last year, I was very pleased to be involved in the initiative of the Howard government in June which resulted in $1.8 million over five years to support Australians with disabilities, their families and carers. That came about because of an increasing awareness of ageing carers who had children to look after and who were suffering some anxiety because they really did not know where it was all going to end as they grew older. This funding provided more supported accommodation, carer payments, respite services for children and disability employment services.

There is still much more to be done. I note that the Rudd government has announced $5.3 billion over five years for states and territories under the National Disability Agreement, formerly the CSTDA, which was being negotiated by the former Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, who placed on the table increased funding. But it remains to be seen how effective this is all going to be, because the disability sector is a complex area of need and it is essential that the funding gets to the right places. I believe that, as a country, we still have a lot more work to do in relation to the disability sector and providing relief to areas of need which hitherto have had absolutely nothing.

There are some great stories in Australia when you travel around and see what is being done, but it is up to the governments of this country, of whatever persuasion, to adequately resource the sector. It is something that I will have an ongoing interest in. I urge other senators to consider the ‘adopt a politician’ scheme. In 2006 we established the Parliamentary Friends of People with a Disability. I think that would be a pretty good vehicle to establish a national ‘adopt a politician’ scheme.

I place on record my appreciation to Stephen Franklin and his family for allowing me to have been part of their experiences over the last few years. I also acknowledge the great work that Carol Franklin does in the disability sector. I know that she has increased awareness in relation to this area and helped many, many families who have been in a similar position. I think it is a story which needs to be told far and wide across Australia. I thank the Senate.