Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Brown and Reynolds, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 3 December marks the International Day of People with Disability,

(ii) this day represents an opportunity to celebrate people with disability and the invaluable contribution that they make to the Australian and international community,

(iii) the theme of this year's celebrations is 'Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality', and

(iv) for the first time, people with disability are holding their own National Awards for Disability Leadership, and these will be shown on a dedicated YouTube channel and hosted jointly by the Disability Leadership Institute, Disabled People's Organisations Australia and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations; and

(b) encourages everyone to participate in these celebrations online and in the community; with events taking place all over the country, the International Day for People with Disability on 3 December is a fantastic opportunity to embrace the theme of this year and work to foster inclusiveness across the nation.

Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1279 as moved by Senators Brown and Reynolds.

Leave not granted.

In lieu of suspending standing orders, I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is, indeed, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. As a disabled person, I join with my community around Australia in recognising, celebrating, commemorating and recommitting ourselves to the work that needs to be done in order to see justice and equality realised for disabled people.

We are sick and tired of marking this day over and over with platitudes, with meaningless words said by those without lived experience who then expect us to thank them. We demand that action is taken, that words of substance are said. Those are the words which I sought to amend this motion with, and they will reappear in this place tomorrow in the form of my own motion. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.