Media Releases by The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Better cinema access for hearing and vision-impaired
Australia’s four major cinema groups and the Australian Government have agreed to jointly fast track new audio description and captioning technology, as part of a…
Government launches disability employment discussion paper
The Gillard Government today released a discussion paper on improved support to Australians with severe or profound disability who need supported employment through Australian Disability…
Supporting carers of children and teenagers with disability
The Gillard Government is continuing to deliver support to carers of children and teenagers with disability through the popular MyTime and Outside School Hours Care…
Promoting livable housing design in Australia
Leaders of the housing industry, disability sector and community have today agreed to an aspirational target that all new homes will be built to disability-friendly…
$700,000 for Barkuma disability enterprise building upgrade
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today announced $700,000 in funding to the Australian Disability Enterprise Barkuma, for refurbishments to its factory…
New Tax Laws to Help People with Severe Disabilities, their Families and Carers pass through Parliament
Legislation to make the taxation of special disability trusts fairer and simpler was passed by Parliament today. The legislation, contained in the Tax Laws Amendment…
Government releases website accessibility national transition strategy
People with disabilities will have better access to Australian Government websites as a result of the implementation of new website accessibility guidelines. Minister for Finance…
National consultation on disabilities convention report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today announced a national public consultation process on Australia’s first report under…
Funding boost and less red tape for Australian Disability Enterprises
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) will receive an additional $4.5 million in 2010-2011 to allow them to continue to support over 19,000 workers with disability across…
$3 million Innovation Fund boost for disability employment
Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib today announced Round 3 of the Rudd Government’s Innovation Fund will include $3 million for social enterprises focussed on jobseekers…
Queen’s Birthday Honours recognise service to people with disabilities
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten has congratulated the Australians recognised for their service to the disability community in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours. “People…
Call for more organisations to join Companion Card Scheme
The Minister for Community Services, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, today called on more Australian organisations to join the National…
Disability Ministers endorse Australian Disability Parking Scheme
Disability Ministers today endorsed the eligibility criteria, concession provisions, and proposed timeline for the roll out of the Australian Disability Parking Scheme. The Scheme has…
Fast-tracking Disability Support Pension claims for severe disability and cancer
As part of the Australian Government’s package of Disability Support Pension (DSP) reforms, more people with a severe and profound permanent disability will be granted…
Australian Disability Enterprises show their wares to Government departments and agencies
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today opened the Purchasing with Purpose Expo for Australian Government Buyers in Canberra. The expo is…
Younger People with Disability in Residential Aged Care program
The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, today welcomed the Australian Institute of…
Tax Law Reforms to Help People With Severe Disabilities, their Families and Carers
The Rudd Government has today introduced legislation to reform the tax treatment of unexpended income of a special disability trust. These reforms, announced in the…
Australians encouraged to nominate for the National Disability Awards
The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, today called on all Australians…
Government and AFL join forces to promote Learn. Earn. Legend!
The Rudd Government is teaming up with the AFL during this weekend’s Dreamtime at the ‘G’ to encourage young Indigenous Australians to stay at school…
Rudd Government gives $162,000 to new body representing children with disability
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today launched Children with Disability Australia, a new disability organisation representing the views and interests of…
Government welcomes Productivity Commission Issues Paper on Disability Care and Support
The Minister for Community Services, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, today welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s issues paper…
Assisting jobseekers and people with disability return to work
The Rudd Government will improve assessments for disadvantaged jobseekers and people with disabilities to ensure that appropriate employment services and income support are provided. New…
Government supporting Australians with disability
People with disability are going to be encouraged to participate in landmark reforms that will help the Rudd Government deliver lasting gains in this important…
Teachers and Parents to Continue Benefiting From Autism Workshops Until 2012
The Rudd Government has today announced that the Australian Autism Education & Training Consortium (AAETC) will continue to deliver the well-received Positive Partnerships initiatives, for…
New centre for people with vision impairments in Western Melbourne
The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today opened Vision Australia’s new $14.7 million Macaulay Road Centre for people with vision impairments…