Friday, 20th January 2006

The Dignity for Disabled Party has become the first winner in the SA election. In a clear indication of how important preferences from minor parties will be, the Labor Government has promised to get rid of stamp duty on vehicles used to transport people with disabilities. The decision was announced by Disability Minister Jay Weatherill just six hours after a community group warned that critical services for the disabled were being sacrificed because of "unfair Government taxes".

The Advertiser reported this morning that at a media conference at 11am, ACROD president Phil Martin said stamp duty on the fleet of motor vehicles used by 45 not-for-profit organisations was costing them $450,000 a year. Mr Martin said accommodation, day options programs, early intervention and children's services were suffering as a result. "Removal of this tax would help alleviate the pressure," he said. "It's putting unnecessary financial pressure on a sector which is already stretched. It doesn't make any sense. What the Government is giving with one hand, it is taking away with the other".

Just before 5pm, Mr Weatherill announced that the tax burden would be lifted.

Mr Martin greeted the decision by saying that ACROD would not be publicly endorsing Dignity for Disabled candidates at the coming elections. "We are a non-political organisation and we believe our best way to support people with disabilities is to encourage any party to commit to increased investment in the sector," said Mr Martin.

Dignity for Disabled Party members have been active for several months in advocating the cause of greater expenditure by Government on people with disabilities. Their advocacy has now brought its first reward..

South Australian News