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For immediate release. August 31, 2017 

BENDIGO DISABILITY WORKERS COMMUNITY PROTEST TODAY

Community rally August 31,11.45 a.m. Jacinta Allan's office, preceded by "Mock Auction" of disability workers at 11a.m. Pall Mall.

The Bendigo Blitz, a week of community campaigning against the Andrews Government's proposed privatisation of public disability services, will culminate tomorrow with a community rally and "Mock Auction" of Bendigo disability services and workers.

The Bendigo Blitz Week - which included door knocking, letter boxing and information stalls at railway station and shopping centres - will be followed by radio and cinema advertising over the coming months.

Lloyd Williams, State Secretary of the Health and Community Services Union, said the community campaign had been very well received with a lot of local Bendigo residents expressing concern. 

Quotes attributable to Lloyd Williams, HACSU State Secretary

“Privatisation will effectively tear apart the long-term relationships between people with disabilities and their carers.”

"Forcing carers into the private sector with major pay cuts - up to 30% - or long wage freezes will see many highly trained and experienced disability carers forced to find other work to service their mortgages and financial commitments. This will leave residents with profound disabilities with inexperienced casual workers to support them." 

“Carers perform deeply personal tasks, like helping residents with showering and toileting and supporting their social and developmental needs. Vulnerable people should not be put in a position where they have to rely on strangers.”

"Whilst we understand the root cause of the problem is inadequate NDIS pricing for services, the Andrews Government's response is the wrong one. They shouldn't be hand-balling responsibility for people with profound disabilities to cut costs."

"The gap the Andrews Government needs to fund to ensure we still have public sector disability providers, so families can keep that choice, is tiny. It’s only 3%.”

"Daniel Andrews still has a chance to do the right thing, to honor his promise and protect vulnerable Victorians and their carers."