"Is it fair that disability support workers earn less than workers who stack supermarkets shelves?" Australian Services Union NSW secretary Sally McManus asked 2000 protesters, including people with disabilities and disability sector workers.
"Is it fair disability workers are forced away from Sydney because they can't afford to pay the rent?"
McManus was addressing the October 28 Stronger Together rally held at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. The rally called for a guarantee of state funding for disability services. The Stronger Together program funds most services in the sector, but was not included in the state budget.
Labor Premier Kristina Keneally addressed the rally but would not commit to the funding.
Aboriginal woman Shirley Lomas, mother of a severely autistic son, made an impromptu, impassioned plea for Indigenous children. "Our children are so profoundly disabled and they can't vote. They are not worth anything in this country, so we are fed up with that.”
Her advice to not be fooled by politicians was met with the biggest cheer of the day.