Labour leader Chris Hipkins has called on the Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds to apologise to carers for her comments he says "belittled" them.
This week it was revealed the Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People would place new rules on funding for equipment, modification support and services.
The change — cited as due to financial pressures on Government departments — was announced by Whaikaha on Monday after an email leak.
Under fire for the changes yesterday, Simmonds said due to the financial pressure the Ministry was under, it was about refining the criteria for the funding as some was going towards massages, overseas travel, pedicures and haircuts for carers - some of which is known as respite.
In Parliament today, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the Government was "penny pinching" when it came to support for "some of the most vulnerable in our communities" while "dishing out literally billions of dollars for the country's landlords".
"They decided that tax cuts for landlords were so important that they needed to be decided before the Budget process had even begun but those who have real issues around disability support on a day to day basis now, are going to have to wait for longer [and have] support cut off from them."
He said one of the most "reprehensible" things was Simmonds' comments yesterday where she "belittled" disability support carers.
"Suggesting that they are living the high life using that funding that is provided for those with disabilities on themselves instead of caring for those who have the disabilities."
He said he hoped Simmonds would reflect on the comments and apologise to carers.
"Those carers are people who devote their lives to providing support for some of the most vulnerable members in our community."
He said he'd spoken to parents of disabled children who had severe and complex needs, and caring for them was a "24 / 7 job".
"There is no break. Even when the rest of us think we can have a bit of a break at bedtime when we go to sleep, they don't even get that. Some of those kids are up all night with their needs and those parents do not get one minute, some days, of respite."
He said the previous Labour-led Government's policy to allow parents and carers to access funding for respite purchases was "not a mistake".
"It was totally and utterly justified."
He said things like pedicures prevented ingrown toenails, fungal nail infections, corns and callouses and athlete's foot, which he said some carers had to contend with due to their work.
"Getting physiotherapy - or yes, a massage - because you are lifting a someone heavily all day every day, is not an unreasonable thing for those communities to ask for.
"It's not unreasonable for parents who have non-verbal children to be asking for things like iPads to use, so that child has a way of communicating. That's exactly what flexible funding was designed to achieve.
"I don't think the Minister for Disability Issues should be belittling the parents who are accessing those very supports. Talk about punching down.
"[It's] absolutely shameful."
He said carers were similarly vulnerable to the disabled people they cared for.
"They are giving up their lives, in many cases, to supporting people who have disabilities."
Simmonds - changes about ensuring funding goes to disabled people
Earlier, Simmonds put out a statement saying no disabled person would lose access to funding for essential services, equipment, or support, despite a forecast budget overrun in the disability support appropriation.
“The changes that the Ministry for Disabled People, Whaikaha is making, are simply about ensuring the funding allocated to disabled people is actually being used for that purpose.
“During Covid, restrictions on what this funding could be spent on were loosened – that may have been appropriate during that unique period, but it no longer is."
She said the Ministry was restoring some but not all restrictions on the funding, giving the example of equipment or services for disabled people rather than overseas travel or haircuts for their carers.
"This is appropriate.
“Our focus is on the needs of disabled people. We intend to ensure that funding gets directly to where it is needed.
“To be clear, this is not a reduction in funding – it simply changes how the current funding can be used to ensure maximum benefit for the disabled person.
“The flexible support budget is used by families to purchase disability supports."
She said the change to the equipment and modification budget was to ensure equipment and property or motor vehicle modifications were prioritised to those with the greatest need.
“Parents will still be able use the support budget to pay for within region travel and essential tools.
“I appreciate that the consultation was not as wide as it should have been before implementing the changes. We are improving processes around communication.
“What is important is that the needs of disabled people will continue to be the highest priority for this coalition Government.”
'Uproar and confusion'
IHC New Zealand said the sudden announcement had caused an "uproar of confusion and stress from the disability community about whether people could continue receiving disability support services".
IHC director of advocacy Tania Thomas said the changes looked "very much like a cost-saving exercise".
“The system isn’t perfect, however hitting pause like this means people don’t know how to live their lives today, tomorrow and next week. It’s no way to live.
“The disability sector has been underfunded for years and is already in an impoverished state. Now this blowout comes despite Whaikaha's knowledge that it needs to be careful with funding. There is real fear about what will be next.
“Disabled adults, children, families and whānau need assurances that their rights are going to be upheld and that the Government is committed to the Enabling Good Lives principles."
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