13 December 2011
Minister Turia needs to be at the cabinet table
IHC congratulates Tariana Turia on her reappointment to the role of Minister for Disability Issues but is concerned that
disabled New Zealanders are not represented at Cabinet.
“One in five New Zealanders have a disability. It makes no sense that disabled people’s interests are not represented at
the highest political level,” says Trish Grant, Director of Advocacy at IHC.
“Minister Turia has in her first term as Minister for Disability Issues shown a real commitment and willingness to
create a positive change in the lives of disabled people and their whanau. Her ability to make a real difference for
them would be strengthened by being at the Cabinet table.“
IHC believes that the Minister for Disability Issues needs to be at the Cabinet table otherwise one in five New
Zealanders have a limited political voice.
Disabled people and their families have been asking for an integrated whole of government response to their
circumstances for some years now. Minister Turia’s other responsibilities as Minister of Whanau Ora and Associate
Minister of Social Development and Employment, Health and Housing make her ideally placed to influence and prioritise
this government approach.
ENDS