20 Jun 2012

Parents of disabled children say Govt is keeping them in dark

6:16 pm on 20 June 2012

Parents of disabled adults say they are being kept in the dark about the membership of a key Government advisory group.

The Government last week announced it would no longer fight a ruling that family members should be paid to provide disability support services for adult offspring.

The Health Ministry says it has set up a technical advisory group to help rewrite its policy on payment of family members caring for disabled adults.

The ministry says the parents involved in the case are not on the group, but has not given details of the actual membership.

The parents say they should be consulted at least, because of their involvement and knowledge.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty agrees, saying the ministry is being secretive and showing a lack of respect for the parent plaintiffs.