Welcome

Welcome to this second edition of the Fix NDIS Campaign Newsletter. Our aim to to get several people from the disability community elected to the next federal parliament to Fix NDIS. No-one else is going to do it for us, so we will do it ourselves. Subscribe. Keep informed. Become involved.

Anne-Marie Markos | Candidate for Petrie (QLD)

Anne-Marie Markos is an advocate and primary carer for two sons with complex disabilities, and an NDIS participant herself. She is our Democracy First candidate for the seat of Petrie.

Anne-Marie was formerly Manager of Waste and Environmental Services at Brisbane's Mater Hospital. She was a leader in sustainability and resource management in a big institution and increased recycling in the Mater by 150%. She won the Lord Mayor's Business Award for Sustainability in Business. She was a Hotel Services Manager before that.

But then health and disability issues intervened to change her life's direction.

"I am a dedicated advocate with a passion for creating a more inclusive, supportive, and accessible society. I have championed the rights and needs of individuals and families navigating complex health, disability, and mental health systems.

My lived experience as a pwd, a carer and a parent of two children with significant disabilities has fuelled my commitment to driving meaningful change in policy and support structures, particularly with the NDIA and NDIS. No one should be left behind due to bureaucratic challenges or systemic barriers.

At home, I am a devoted mother and wife, navigating the challenges of my own disabilities alongside caring for my two sons. I live with Bipolar and ADHD, and various physical conditions including Erythromelalgia. A incident during my pregnancy with my son Hunter resulted in permanent damage to my shoulder, leaving me with partial paralysis in one arm."

Petrie is based on Aspley and Redcliffe in Brisbane's north. It is held by the Liberal Party.

River Night | Candidate for Blair (QLD)

River Night is a disability advocate, carer and entrepreneur. He is a regular media commentator on disability issues. He is the Democracy First candidate for Blair, based on Ipswich, west of Brisbane. Blair is held by Labor.

River has three decades experience in community sector activity across disabilities, child safety, guardianship, advocacy, youth justice, forensic services, education and carer support settings in government and non-government agencies. With personal, lived experience of disability, as a carer and father, he works significantly in media and as a sector advocate.

He co-founded Developing Australian Communities with Mike Clarke, which runs disability networking and Expo events across Australia.

He started the National Disability Leadership Organisation which hosts the Disability Sector Awards Gala each year to recognise the front line work of dedicated people living with disability, professionals, volunteers and staff.

River is a proud husband and father living with autism. He is a carer for his wife, with multiple disabilities.

Our Campaign

We will stand a team of candidates from the disability community in 30 selected seats out of 150 in the House of Representatives in the next federal election.

We will mobilise the disability community around Australian in support of them – people with disabilities, families, friends, support workers, service providers, and advocates. There are millions of us.

Out team of candidates will include:

8 in Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong

8 in Melbourne/Geelong

6 in South East Queensland

3 in Adelaide

3 in Perth

1 in Tasmania

1 in Canberra

We invite your participation. Complete the form at

www.democracyfirst.org.au/fixndis/

Campaign Director

We are seeking a Campaign Director to oversee our national campaign. It is a voluntary position for the next five months. We require a person with exceptional commitment and skills in renovating Australian democracy and transforming the social services landscape.

See www.democracyfirst.org.au/fixndis/

Enquiries to: Vern Hughes 0425 722 890 [email protected]

What We Believe

1. Everyone matters and is entitled to a say, but most of us have been denied a voice. We feel disillusioned with politics and disappointed with our governments.

2. Politicians from Labor and Coalition parties think disability and NDIS are worthy enough BUT they think they know best and will continue to deliver what they decide is appropriate, no matter what anyone else in the community might think, and no matter that this negates the idea of ‘co-design’.

3. Political representatives should be facilitators of community discussion, citizen participation, adult education, development of local solutions, and be 100% accountable to local people.

4. We don’t want career politicians. We want people who are pioneers, innovators, listeners, leaders and change makers. There should be a maximum of 3 terms for politicians, then back to your day job so someone else can be a representative.

5. People in the disability community value persons and relationships ahead of systems and bureaucracy. We value stability and flexibility. We are wary of Big Business and Big Government. We want bureaucracy kept to a minimum and we want creativity and initiative to flourish.

6. We will create a Local Solutions Hub in each electorate to generate better?ways of doing things?in community inclusion, family support, small business support, local job-creation, support for ageing people, local power generation, healthy living and illness-prevention.

7. Every?government agency and department should have an Independent?Panel of Citizens to monitor and?scrutinise spending with the aim of eliminating waste, duplication and rorts.

8. Our representatives have an obligation to consult with colleagues and their voters, and vote accordingly in Parliament, upholding the spirit of this What We Believe statement. At the end of the day, our MPs have a right to vote in accordance with their conscience on every matter.

Become involved

Everyone is welcome. We want tens of thousands of Australians involved in this campaign, from various backgrounds.

• People with disabilities
• Family members
• Carers (unpaid)
• Support workers
• Service providers
• Advocates
• Supporters

Register and tell us how you would like to be involved. www.democracyfirst.org.au/fixndis/