Tent city in Sydney
SYDNEY — Families from across NSW plan to establish a tent city in Hyde park from November 24 to 26 to highlight the lack of alternative supported accommodation for people with intellectual disability.
John Jacobsen, chair of the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability, points out that this lack results in great physical and emotional stress for families, particularly women. "The hardheads in government say let the women do the caring, and when the parents die, let their brothers and sisters do it."
The Statewide Disability Crisis Coalition says families from as far away as Lightning Ridge, Trangie, Narromine and Walgett will be joining the tent city. Buses will be coming from Dubbo, Orange, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Albany.
Jim Laird, spokesperson for the coalition, said, "The whole state will be focused on this issue when we march to Parliament House".