Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is the first occasion I'm going to have a go at giving a speech without a written one. We'll have a go. I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Herbert. From listening to the comments from those on the other side, I'm incredibly disappointed by the language used—indeed, offensive language—suggesting that somehow those that are raising concerns about these changes, particularly around the changes to the travel costs, are the dodgy operators. I can assure you, from those that have come to see me, that these are outstanding allied health professionals. Many of them are women, and many of them said to me, 'This is an attack on a largely female workforce.' That is offensive.

I represent the electorate of Lyne, which is16,000 square kilometres, from the north, Rollands Plains, down to the south, basically Maitland and Karuah. I've met allied health professionals from across the electorate, and it was fantastic to meet them because I actually learnt something about the profession that I wasn't aware of—that, with an occupational therapist, a dietician or a speech pathologist, it is not one size fits all. There are some that specialise in supporting children; others, in older patients who are suffering dementia; and others, in people with complex disabilities. In a seat like mine, we struggle to maintain health professionals across the board. We have a very small number of very hardworking professional allied health staff, and they actually have to travel quite a long distance to be able to meet many of their patients. It's not like they can just call up someone in Taree and have them come out to Hannam Vale.

Indeed, I grew up in Hannam Vale, and I was there only yesterday at a wonderful minimarket in the lovely, warm sun in the valley. There is a lovely young girl in Hannam Vale, and the therapy that she is receiving is life changing. The allied health professional I met with said:

To continue to visit this little girl who is still learning to walk will no longer be viable for our practice—

under the Albanese government's changes—

There are no therapists closer that are able to support her. She will now have to spend 2 hours in the car for every therapy session. She will miss half a day of school, which she loves—

and I have to say the Hannam Vale Public School is a wonderful school. The therapist says:

This will make her grumpy and tired and therapy outcomes in the clinic will not be as effective as they could be at home.

Indeed, the allied health professionals said to me on numerous occasions that even the rules of the NDIS said that best clinical practice is in-home support, but these changes make it impossible for these allied health professionals to continue to provide the services that they so rightly want to provide.

I want to read out another circumstance in the time I have left to speak. This is from an occupational therapist:

Mr M* is a 42-year-old man living in Wauchope—

where I live—

with his ageing mother. He has a rare genetic condition and severe intellectual disability … and is completely dependent on 24/7 care. I have been his OT for 7 years and travel a 60 minute round trip to provide vital in home services to him. Due to his rare disability, he requires a wide range of highly customised equipment, including a powered wheelchair, a tilt-in-space commode, an electric hospital bed with a pressure care mattress, a powered lift recliner, and standing hoist for all transfers. He rarely leaves his home, and when he does, it is only with full support. Home based OT services are essential for Mr. M* because assessments and interventions must be carried out using his own equipment in his own home environment.

This allows for accurate evaluation of his daily functioning and ensures that each piece of equipment is working correctly and remains appropriate for his changing and often declining needs.

These are people speaking out about the negative impact that the government's changes will make, and I ask them most sincerely to reverse them. (Time expired)

See this speech in context