From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Collins.

From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Collins.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision.

We don't want to go back to the dark ages when we weren't sure of what vote we put in because we had to trust somebody else in writing that down and and hoping that they represented our needs in the same way that we that we wanted them to.

We don't want to go back to the dark ages when we weren't sure of what vote we put in because we had to trust somebody else in writing that down and and hoping that they represented our needs in the same way that we that we wanted them to.

Welcome to the program. That voice you just heard there was Vision Australia manager of advocacy and government relations, Chris Edwards, talking about why being able to vote secretly, independently and verifiably is so important for voters who are blind or have low vision. He caught up with Peter Greco to discuss the progress that has been made in accessibility in this area and the options available to voters both on and leading up to polling day. And that interview is coming up shortly. And then following on from Chris Peter, I also had the chance to speak with the Australian Electoral Commission's director of media, Evan Smith, who provides more details about voting by phone and other accessible voting options which became available as of this Monday. And finally on the show this week, we hear briefly from three candidates for parliament for the lower house. We have Bill Shorten MP from Labor and for the Upper House. We have Senators Jordon Steele-John from the Greens and Malcolm Roberts from One Nation. I hope you enjoyed this federal election special episode of Talking Vision. And now here's Peter Greco with Chris Edwards.

Welcome to the program. That voice you just heard there was Vision Australia manager of advocacy and government relations, Chris Edwards, talking about why being able to vote secretly, independently and verifiably is so important for voters who are blind or have low vision. He caught up with Peter Greco to discuss the progress that has been made in accessibility in this area and the options available to voters both on and leading up to polling day. And that interview is coming up shortly. And then following on from Chris Peter, I also had the chance to speak with the Australian Electoral Commission's director of media, Evan Smith, who provides more details about voting by phone and other accessible voting options which became available as of this Monday. And finally on the show this week, we hear briefly from three candidates for parliament for the lower house. We have Bill Shorten MP from Labor and for the Upper House. We have Senators Jordon Steele-John from the Greens and Malcolm Roberts from One Nation. I hope you enjoyed this federal election special episode of Talking Vision. And now here's Peter Greco with Chris Edwards.

Let's catch up with Chris Edwards. Chris is the manager for advocacy, endless aged care and also government relations at Vision Australia. Chris, great to get up. Thanks, Peter. It's great to be here. That's quite a hat you wear. Yeah, it's never a dull moment in my life at the moment. And with the election on and with all the changes to the aged care and NDIS reforms, it certainly keeps me occupied. Yes, there may be more more changes on the way since there's no no, no question. As in all the various fields that I have responsibility for, there's significant change. Some of it, I think, for the better and some of it that we need to try and keep government on their toes. Or we might come back to that because I think that's very, very important topic. But my 21st will be the election. Exciting news for my point of view. May not that there'll be accessible writing which has happened at other elections. So for people blind or have low vision. But I get a chance to fight independently, verifiably and secretly. Absolutely. You know, it's a fundamental right in Australia and it should be, you know, right across the world that no matter who you are, if you're eligible to vote, you should have the absolute right to be able to cast the vote and and determine who the government of the day is going to be. So it's it's been a hard fought, hasn't it, because I'm old enough to remember when we had nothing. Chris, I'm not sure how old you are now, in a sense, but I'm old enough to know when we didn't have any sort of form of accessible voting, we had to get someone to do it for us or do a postal vote, which meant the same thing in the sense you had to get someone to do it for you. Yeah. So I think fortunately we have progressed a fair way from there. Are we at the ideal point? No, but yeah, it is really important as a blind person that, you know, you can cast your vote secretly, you can verify what you actually, you know, what you're selected is correct and you can do that independently. And so, yeah, all the electoral commission's across the country have been trying to do that. And in this federal election there is some accessible options. And yeah, that is really important and and is a clear right for people to on television. But, you know, we're glad that, yeah, we work very closely with the electoral commission to try and ensure that that people are buying television, have that option to be able to do a vote in a way that is, you know, a secret verified liberal and independent. We'll have some from the commission shortly on to talk about the logistics of it. But you've touched on the importance. What about the importance of people actually turning up? Well, in this case, picking up their phone and doing it. How important you think that is that we kind of demonstrate that, yes, this might not be perfect, but we want this to progress. You know, we, as you say, lobby very hard to ensure that we have these accessible voting options and that it is really important that people take up these voting options, because then that demonstrates that it is important to our overall cohort and it is important and that that you can cast your own vote. And so I think that, you know, without people turning up, you know, it's very easy for, you know, the naysayers to go hold up. You only got this many people using this accessible system. And and I think that's not good because people are missing out on the opportunity, but it's also not good from a lobbying perspective. It's a great point. And what about the fact that it's on every four years or three years, depending on where you live? It's kind of a slow burn, isn't it? Because, you know, it's not every day that you do this. So it's hard to get people enthused or get people on board if it's if it's happening sort of on a sort of semi-regular basis or a a basis that's fairly long as far as information's got. Yeah, it is. It is. And it's something that Yeah. Not everybody feels passionate about, but it is really, really important as a fundamental right for, you know, somebody who is blind or low vision that they have got that choice and that ability to be able to do that independent vote. Because without that, we don't want to go back to the dark ages when yeah, we weren't sure of had what, what vote we put in because we had to trust somebody else in writing that down and, and hoping that they represented our needs in the same way that we that we wanted them to. We're speaking to Chris Edwards from Vision Australia. Chris looks at the government relations advocacy, the NDIS and also aged care for Vision Australia. Chris, what about the situation at the moment? We've got the election on May 21st. I mean there's been a bit of controversy this week regarding Anthony Albanese and forgetting that six. Why is that? Labor is putting forward to improve the NDIS. It's a bit of a political football storm in a teacup in a sense. But is there sort of a I'm not sure if you can answer this if you're prepared to ask this, but is that kind of a a clear cut sort of decision as to how the NDIS is going to be better on the WHO? Look, you know, I think that it is unclear what's what's really pleasing is that both parties are committed to fund the NDIS fully. And so that's something that Vision Australia believe that is really important that each party committed to fully funding the NDIS. Now in what that means for, you know, people's individual plans and those sorts of things, you know, we've got, you know, Bill Shorten and the Labor Party saying that we'll do a review to ensure that people's plans are correct and we've got a whole lot of reform that the Liberal Party is saying. You know, I think that, you know, the Labor Party certainly introduced the NDIS in into to Australia and a very committed to it. But the Liberal Party also, you know, I've met both Linda Reynolds and Bill Shorten and they're both very committed to delivering a quality NDIS. And so it's a bit hard to say at this point. You know, it's very easy to say what you might want to do if you're not in government and at sometimes harder to do it. And I guess another chapter might come down the track towards the end of the year, Chris will be the the royal commission's report and perhaps some of the recommendations into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities. Yeah, absolutely. Vision Australia has put numerous submissions to the Disability Reform Commission. The latest one I just sent off yesterday actually around government's response to the army called covered issues and the floods. And so yeah, it is great that yeah, there is a commission that is really looking at what's been working and and where the gaps are in supporting people with disabilities through, you know, what are some very challenging times. And Chris, just finally aged care, I mean, that's almost a topic of its own, isn't it as well? I mean, there's a lot of issues with that. And of course, you know, combining the two, you know, people over 65 that aren't on the NDIS, you know, as I said, it's almost like a separate topic, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. Aged care reform is going to be the significant piece of work no matter which government get in. We know from the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care that there's a whole lot lacking within the system at the moment. We know that there are some significant government reforms where multiple programs are being merged into one and you know that that's going to create some yeah, some opportunities for people. But, you know, it'll, it'll really ensure that providers need to really think about the person at the centre. And so yeah, yes, some of the reforms are good, but you know, we still need to learn a little bit more about of how it's all going to work. Well, Chris, I think we're in good hands with someone like you helping us out or a big on our side as well. Thank me spending a bit of time of this the of sensitivity scratch the surface but we appreciate your time and we wish you well. And I'm sure it won't be too long before we catch up again. Always happy to catch up. Peter, it's great talking to you. That's. Chris Edwards. Chris is the manager for Advocacy, Government Relations, NDIS and Aged Care at Vision Australia.

Let's catch up with Chris Edwards. Chris is the manager for advocacy, endless aged care and also government relations at Vision Australia. Chris, great to get up. Thanks, Peter. It's great to be here. That's quite a hat you wear. Yeah, it's never a dull moment in my life at the moment. And with the election on and with all the changes to the aged care and NDIS reforms, it certainly keeps me occupied. Yes, there may be more more changes on the way since there's no no, no question. As in all the various fields that I have responsibility for, there's significant change. Some of it, I think, for the better and some of it that we need to try and keep government on their toes. Or we might come back to that because I think that's very, very important topic. But my 21st will be the election. Exciting news for my point of view. May not that there'll be accessible writing which has happened at other elections. So for people blind or have low vision. But I get a chance to fight independently, verifiably and secretly. Absolutely. You know, it's a fundamental right in Australia and it should be, you know, right across the world that no matter who you are, if you're eligible to vote, you should have the absolute right to be able to cast the vote and and determine who the government of the day is going to be. So it's it's been a hard fought, hasn't it, because I'm old enough to remember when we had nothing. Chris, I'm not sure how old you are now, in a sense, but I'm old enough to know when we didn't have any sort of form of accessible voting, we had to get someone to do it for us or do a postal vote, which meant the same thing in the sense you had to get someone to do it for you. Yeah. So I think fortunately we have progressed a fair way from there. Are we at the ideal point? No, but yeah, it is really important as a blind person that, you know, you can cast your vote secretly, you can verify what you actually, you know, what you're selected is correct and you can do that independently. And so, yeah, all the electoral commission's across the country have been trying to do that. And in this federal election there is some accessible options. And yeah, that is really important and and is a clear right for people to on television. But, you know, we're glad that, yeah, we work very closely with the electoral commission to try and ensure that that people are buying television, have that option to be able to do a vote in a way that is, you know, a secret verified liberal and independent. We'll have some from the commission shortly on to talk about the logistics of it. But you've touched on the importance. What about the importance of people actually turning up? Well, in this case, picking up their phone and doing it. How important you think that is that we kind of demonstrate that, yes, this might not be perfect, but we want this to progress. You know, we, as you say, lobby very hard to ensure that we have these accessible voting options and that it is really important that people take up these voting options, because then that demonstrates that it is important to our overall cohort and it is important and that that you can cast your own vote. And so I think that, you know, without people turning up, you know, it's very easy for, you know, the naysayers to go hold up. You only got this many people using this accessible system. And and I think that's not good because people are missing out on the opportunity, but it's also not good from a lobbying perspective. It's a great point. And what about the fact that it's on every four years or three years, depending on where you live? It's kind of a slow burn, isn't it? Because, you know, it's not every day that you do this. So it's hard to get people enthused or get people on board if it's if it's happening sort of on a sort of semi-regular basis or a a basis that's fairly long as far as information's got. Yeah, it is. It is. And it's something that Yeah. Not everybody feels passionate about, but it is really, really important as a fundamental right for, you know, somebody who is blind or low vision that they have got that choice and that ability to be able to do that independent vote. Because without that, we don't want to go back to the dark ages when yeah, we weren't sure of had what, what vote we put in because we had to trust somebody else in writing that down and, and hoping that they represented our needs in the same way that we that we wanted them to. We're speaking to Chris Edwards from Vision Australia. Chris looks at the government relations advocacy, the NDIS and also aged care for Vision Australia. Chris, what about the situation at the moment? We've got the election on May 21st. I mean there's been a bit of controversy this week regarding Anthony Albanese and forgetting that six. Why is that? Labor is putting forward to improve the NDIS. It's a bit of a political football storm in a teacup in a sense. But is there sort of a I'm not sure if you can answer this if you're prepared to ask this, but is that kind of a a clear cut sort of decision as to how the NDIS is going to be better on the WHO? Look, you know, I think that it is unclear what's what's really pleasing is that both parties are committed to fund the NDIS fully. And so that's something that Vision Australia believe that is really important that each party committed to fully funding the NDIS. Now in what that means for, you know, people's individual plans and those sorts of things, you know, we've got, you know, Bill Shorten and the Labor Party saying that we'll do a review to ensure that people's plans are correct and we've got a whole lot of reform that the Liberal Party is saying. You know, I think that, you know, the Labor Party certainly introduced the NDIS in into to Australia and a very committed to it. But the Liberal Party also, you know, I've met both Linda Reynolds and Bill Shorten and they're both very committed to delivering a quality NDIS. And so it's a bit hard to say at this point. You know, it's very easy to say what you might want to do if you're not in government and at sometimes harder to do it. And I guess another chapter might come down the track towards the end of the year, Chris will be the the royal commission's report and perhaps some of the recommendations into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities. Yeah, absolutely. Vision Australia has put numerous submissions to the Disability Reform Commission. The latest one I just sent off yesterday actually around government's response to the army called covered issues and the floods. And so yeah, it is great that yeah, there is a commission that is really looking at what's been working and and where the gaps are in supporting people with disabilities through, you know, what are some very challenging times. And Chris, just finally aged care, I mean, that's almost a topic of its own, isn't it as well? I mean, there's a lot of issues with that. And of course, you know, combining the two, you know, people over 65 that aren't on the NDIS, you know, as I said, it's almost like a separate topic, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. Aged care reform is going to be the significant piece of work no matter which government get in. We know from the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care that there's a whole lot lacking within the system at the moment. We know that there are some significant government reforms where multiple programs are being merged into one and you know that that's going to create some yeah, some opportunities for people. But, you know, it'll, it'll really ensure that providers need to really think about the person at the centre. And so yeah, yes, some of the reforms are good, but you know, we still need to learn a little bit more about of how it's all going to work. Well, Chris, I think we're in good hands with someone like you helping us out or a big on our side as well. Thank me spending a bit of time of this the of sensitivity scratch the surface but we appreciate your time and we wish you well. And I'm sure it won't be too long before we catch up again. Always happy to catch up. Peter, it's great talking to you. That's. Chris Edwards. Chris is the manager for Advocacy, Government Relations, NDIS and Aged Care at Vision Australia.

I'm Sam Kiley. And you're listening to this federal election special episode of Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Our Age and the Community Radio Network. If you're enjoying the show and you'd love to find out more like where to find local radio frequencies or a good spot to listen to past programs. You can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just search talking vision and it should come up as the first option. You can also find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now here's Peter Greco with Evan a Can Smith.

I'm Sam Kiley. And you're listening to this federal election special episode of Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Our Age and the Community Radio Network. If you're enjoying the show and you'd love to find out more like where to find local radio frequencies or a good spot to listen to past programs. You can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just search talking vision and it should come up as the first option. You can also find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now here's Peter Greco with Evan a Can Smith.

May 21st is looming large on the horizon, nearly time for the election. To find out what's available as far as the transport question goes. Let's speak to Evan Aiken Smith, who is from the Electric Commission. Evan is the director for Media and Digital Engagement. Evan, thanks so much for your time.

May 21st is looming large on the horizon, nearly time for the election. To find out what's available as far as the transport question goes. Let's speak to Evan Aiken Smith, who is from the Electric Commission. Evan is the director for Media and Digital Engagement. Evan, thanks so much for your time.

Not a problem that that title of mine is a mouthful. I forget it myself all the time.

Not a problem that that title of mine is a mouthful. I forget it myself all the time.

That's very impressive.

That's very impressive.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now, of course, the election is on. I guess a lot of people know the convention right off the bat as far as people are blind or visually impaired. Glass few lectures we've had accessible biking. Is that on again this time?

Now, of course, the election is on. I guess a lot of people know the convention right off the bat as far as people are blind or visually impaired. Glass few lectures we've had accessible biking. Is that on again this time?

Yeah, it absolutely is. So there's a telephone voting solution in place and it's in place over the same voting period as our in-person voting centers as well. So from Monday, the 9th of May, people can register for the telephone voting service and cast a vote. So it's an important service we've been having running for a number of elections and we've got it up and going and this time.

Yeah, it absolutely is. So there's a telephone voting solution in place and it's in place over the same voting period as our in-person voting centers as well. So from Monday, the 9th of May, people can register for the telephone voting service and cast a vote. So it's an important service we've been having running for a number of elections and we've got it up and going and this time.

We've got to the phone number. So we'll give that up to give people a chance to either get something, to write it down or record a website. How does it work? We ring this number and we register, so that's kind of a two step process.

We've got to the phone number. So we'll give that up to give people a chance to either get something, to write it down or record a website. How does it work? We ring this number and we register, so that's kind of a two step process.

Yeah, there is, and that's a really important part. So every single Australian has what we refer to as a secret ballot. It's an important thing, but clearly people have to be marked off the electoral as well. So it's a little bit more difficult with the telephone voting service to identify the voter. So that's why it's a two step process. The first phone call is to register and you get a unique code and then the second time you ring up, you provide that unique code. And that's how you cast your vote so that the operator on the other end of the line doesn't know your name. The secrecy is preserved and you can cast your vote being de-identified. So that's really important. And when you.

Yeah, there is, and that's a really important part. So every single Australian has what we refer to as a secret ballot. It's an important thing, but clearly people have to be marked off the electoral as well. So it's a little bit more difficult with the telephone voting service to identify the voter. So that's why it's a two step process. The first phone call is to register and you get a unique code and then the second time you ring up, you provide that unique code. And that's how you cast your vote so that the operator on the other end of the line doesn't know your name. The secrecy is preserved and you can cast your vote being de-identified. So that's really important. And when you.

Ring the second time, you are provided before them with a another code that you need to give to the operator.

Ring the second time, you are provided before them with a another code that you need to give to the operator.

Yeah, that's right. So that's, that's the validation part of it. So it's not just anybody calling up, it's making sure that you have already been marked off the electoral. It's the same phone number, but just a secondary call.

Yeah, that's right. So that's, that's the validation part of it. So it's not just anybody calling up, it's making sure that you have already been marked off the electoral. It's the same phone number, but just a secondary call.

So we can register for Monday the ninth. What about in terms of actually casting our vote, assuming we get that, if you want to call that second pin or that verification number, once we get that, can we vote immediately?

So we can register for Monday the ninth. What about in terms of actually casting our vote, assuming we get that, if you want to call that second pin or that verification number, once we get that, can we vote immediately?

Yeah, as long as you're making that secondary call. Yes, you can. So registrations are open from Monday, the ninth, as is voting. So if you've made a registration call, you're available to call up and cast your vote from Monday, the ninth, all the way through to the close of polling on Election Day at 6 p.m. Saturday, the 21st of May.

Yeah, as long as you're making that secondary call. Yes, you can. So registrations are open from Monday, the ninth, as is voting. So if you've made a registration call, you're available to call up and cast your vote from Monday, the ninth, all the way through to the close of polling on Election Day at 6 p.m. Saturday, the 21st of May.

Now, what about as far as, I guess, the the voting process, if you like, can we choose how we vote? Because they're not the party, obviously, but whether we vote above the line or below the line in the Senate.

Now, what about as far as, I guess, the the voting process, if you like, can we choose how we vote? Because they're not the party, obviously, but whether we vote above the line or below the line in the Senate.

Yeah, absolutely. The voting process, while it's a little bit different to actually access your vote, it's exactly the same in terms of how you cast your vote. So for the House of Representatives, you need to number all the ballot boxes, so provide an indication of what those numbers will be. And that's in order of your preference from the candidate that you most want to elect to federal parliament right away, down to the candidate who you really do not want to see in federal parliament for the Senate. Two options you can vote above the line and that's voting for parties or groups or below the line, and that's voting for individual candidates. If you're voting above the line, you get a number boxes, at least 1 to 6, but long if you're going below the line, it's at least 1 to 12. So what we'll do as part of the telephone voting service is read out the candidates for you. So that will allow you to know who's on the ballot paper and allow you to think about and hopefully you've done some pre thinking as well. And our website has an easy, easy speaker function to it as well. Hopefully you've had a look at that. You go in with some idea of who you voting for and then our operator will help you.

Yeah, absolutely. The voting process, while it's a little bit different to actually access your vote, it's exactly the same in terms of how you cast your vote. So for the House of Representatives, you need to number all the ballot boxes, so provide an indication of what those numbers will be. And that's in order of your preference from the candidate that you most want to elect to federal parliament right away, down to the candidate who you really do not want to see in federal parliament for the Senate. Two options you can vote above the line and that's voting for parties or groups or below the line, and that's voting for individual candidates. If you're voting above the line, you get a number boxes, at least 1 to 6, but long if you're going below the line, it's at least 1 to 12. So what we'll do as part of the telephone voting service is read out the candidates for you. So that will allow you to know who's on the ballot paper and allow you to think about and hopefully you've done some pre thinking as well. And our website has an easy, easy speaker function to it as well. Hopefully you've had a look at that. You go in with some idea of who you voting for and then our operator will help you.

Out in terms of your operators. Evernham And I've actually done it ever since it's been going. I've done it by phone and I've got to say the uprights have been excellent in terms of their professionalism and how aware they are of how it's all working. I'm assuming, you know, for this purpose, this election, they've been well trained and are going to be ready, willing and able to try to do what they need to do.

Out in terms of your operators. Evernham And I've actually done it ever since it's been going. I've done it by phone and I've got to say the uprights have been excellent in terms of their professionalism and how aware they are of how it's all working. I'm assuming, you know, for this purpose, this election, they've been well trained and are going to be ready, willing and able to try to do what they need to do.

Yeah, absolutely. We concentrate really hard on making sure that the operators that we get in place know exactly how the service operates and know how to communicate with Australians who need to access it. So that's an important part of it. Telephone voting for. This election as well. We've extended it to a couple of additional audiences. So Australians who are living in Antarctica and Australians who are affected by COVID. So COVID positive individuals. I think one of the things that's really important to get across, though, is that Australians who are blind or have low vision will be in a priority queue for the service. So given that there's going to be more people accessing telephone voting, you could be forgiven for thinking that there might be a bit more of a wait. We're hoping that they won't be because we provided this priority service.

Yeah, absolutely. We concentrate really hard on making sure that the operators that we get in place know exactly how the service operates and know how to communicate with Australians who need to access it. So that's an important part of it. Telephone voting for. This election as well. We've extended it to a couple of additional audiences. So Australians who are living in Antarctica and Australians who are affected by COVID. So COVID positive individuals. I think one of the things that's really important to get across, though, is that Australians who are blind or have low vision will be in a priority queue for the service. So given that there's going to be more people accessing telephone voting, you could be forgiven for thinking that there might be a bit more of a wait. We're hoping that they won't be because we provided this priority service.

Just for people who either don't want to take this up or perhaps can't take it up for whatever reason. I mean, the other usual methods of voting are in this election. So we can vote pre-poll for Monday the ninth. What about things like postal voting and also, of course, voting on the day? I guess that's sort of the conventional way that we've been doing for a long time, that they're still appropriate today.

Just for people who either don't want to take this up or perhaps can't take it up for whatever reason. I mean, the other usual methods of voting are in this election. So we can vote pre-poll for Monday the ninth. What about things like postal voting and also, of course, voting on the day? I guess that's sort of the conventional way that we've been doing for a long time, that they're still appropriate today.

Yeah, absolutely they are. So we'll have thousands of polling places available on Election Day so people can go in person to attend a polling place. There's a two week early voting period starting from Monday, the ninth. So they have just about 550 odd early voting centres available in that two week period as well. So you can turn up in person. Postal voting is also an option that's available and you can apply via the website. At the moment, if you are turning up in person, you're are able to get someone to assist you to vote as well. So if you do want to bring a family member or friend or or if you want to seek the assistance of a polling official so you can avail yourself of that as well. That's something that's allowed to happen.

Yeah, absolutely they are. So we'll have thousands of polling places available on Election Day so people can go in person to attend a polling place. There's a two week early voting period starting from Monday, the ninth. So they have just about 550 odd early voting centres available in that two week period as well. So you can turn up in person. Postal voting is also an option that's available and you can apply via the website. At the moment, if you are turning up in person, you're are able to get someone to assist you to vote as well. So if you do want to bring a family member or friend or or if you want to seek the assistance of a polling official so you can avail yourself of that as well. That's something that's allowed to happen.

All right. So hopefully people got something to check that's in data. So let's go to the phone number first if people want to register or when people want to register from Monday. And also just roughly the opening hours because I can pretty much early doors on the Monday the north don't you hear me.

All right. So hopefully people got something to check that's in data. So let's go to the phone number first if people want to register or when people want to register from Monday. And also just roughly the opening hours because I can pretty much early doors on the Monday the north don't you hear me.

Do so the phone number is one 800 913993 and we open from 830 to 530 on the Monday. And so those hours go Monday through Friday and then Election Day itself. We open throughout the polling period. So the polling places are open from eight til six as is the telephone voting service.

Do so the phone number is one 800 913993 and we open from 830 to 530 on the Monday. And so those hours go Monday through Friday and then Election Day itself. We open throughout the polling period. So the polling places are open from eight til six as is the telephone voting service.

And I think the verification code you can choose what format, if you like, you have that in, whether it's texture, you email or you can even have a phone call, even a hard copy letter of the country.

And I think the verification code you can choose what format, if you like, you have that in, whether it's texture, you email or you can even have a phone call, even a hard copy letter of the country.

You can indeed. So you've been reading our website information? I reckon so, yes. Choices of email, SMS, phone call or even the snail mail. So the website is a C gave you and the phone number is one, three, two, three, two, six. It depends on the format of information that you need. Some formats might be able to email through, but for some do it earlier rather than later. And that's just generally good advice anyway.

You can indeed. So you've been reading our website information? I reckon so, yes. Choices of email, SMS, phone call or even the snail mail. So the website is a C gave you and the phone number is one, three, two, three, two, six. It depends on the format of information that you need. Some formats might be able to email through, but for some do it earlier rather than later. And that's just generally good advice anyway.

Given it's going to be a busy time, it's already probably is. So. Thank you for spending a little bit of time with us. We wish you well and thank you for speaking to us. And well, personally, I think it's fantastic that this opportunity is available and I hope many many people about themselves of a.

Given it's going to be a busy time, it's already probably is. So. Thank you for spending a little bit of time with us. We wish you well and thank you for speaking to us. And well, personally, I think it's fantastic that this opportunity is available and I hope many many people about themselves of a.

Brilliant Peter thank you very much.

Brilliant Peter thank you very much.

At seven it can Smith who is from the electoral commission. He is the director for Media and Digital Engagement.

At seven it can Smith who is from the electoral commission. He is the director for Media and Digital Engagement.

Thanks very much to Peter Greco with Evan a can Smith there. Now, finally, before we go, Peter had the chance to catch up with a few politicians over the last few weeks and this week on the show. We have some two minute grabs from each of them. You'll hear from Bill Shorten, from the Labor Party, followed by Jordan Steele-John from the Greens, and lastly Malcolm Roberts from One Nation. They caught up with Peter to discuss the priorities in the disability sector and what their party would do to improve the lives of people with disability. So now, without further ado, his Bill Shorten.

Thanks very much to Peter Greco with Evan a can Smith there. Now, finally, before we go, Peter had the chance to catch up with a few politicians over the last few weeks and this week on the show. We have some two minute grabs from each of them. You'll hear from Bill Shorten, from the Labor Party, followed by Jordan Steele-John from the Greens, and lastly Malcolm Roberts from One Nation. They caught up with Peter to discuss the priorities in the disability sector and what their party would do to improve the lives of people with disability. So now, without further ado, his Bill Shorten.

You could sum up our policy in two words restore trust. What we want to do is return the NDIS to its original objectives, which is providing individualised packages of support to Australians who lived with profound and severe impairment. We want to give them choice and control. At the moment we've got a government who is profoundly disinterested in the NDIS. They complain about its costs, they don't understand its value and they're engaging in an undeclared campaign of unfair cuts to people's plans. Part of the problem is now that the scheme is fully rolled out, the Government's heart is not in it. People many people are complaining about the red tape that the NDIS is essentially a second job now just to fill in incomplete. People complain to me in their thousands about cuts and if they haven't been cut, they're anxious at midnight, wondering as a 12 month plan expires, will they in fact get a cut? So I think we need to restore trust in the scheme. We need to focus on getting the initial plan right. We need to stop the wholesale use of top end of town private sector lawyers funded by the agency to knock people off the scheme. We need alternative dispute resolution. We need to have people with disability and their families and supporters involved in co-design of the scheme rather than the government treating everyone outside the bureaucracy with suspicion. We need to increase the staff level of the agency. Got 3000 people running. What the government projects to be $31 billion. It's not enough. And I'd encourage any of your listeners who are fed up with the red tape and bureaucracy of the NDIS to give a new mobile go to give Labor a go. Because I and my colleagues are animated and passionate about making sure that people with disability have the right to an ordinary life, the right to some of the basic things that Australians take for granted. It is only when all of Australians of all walks of life are included in our society can I think our country achieve its true potential.

You could sum up our policy in two words restore trust. What we want to do is return the NDIS to its original objectives, which is providing individualised packages of support to Australians who lived with profound and severe impairment. We want to give them choice and control. At the moment we've got a government who is profoundly disinterested in the NDIS. They complain about its costs, they don't understand its value and they're engaging in an undeclared campaign of unfair cuts to people's plans. Part of the problem is now that the scheme is fully rolled out, the Government's heart is not in it. People many people are complaining about the red tape that the NDIS is essentially a second job now just to fill in incomplete. People complain to me in their thousands about cuts and if they haven't been cut, they're anxious at midnight, wondering as a 12 month plan expires, will they in fact get a cut? So I think we need to restore trust in the scheme. We need to focus on getting the initial plan right. We need to stop the wholesale use of top end of town private sector lawyers funded by the agency to knock people off the scheme. We need alternative dispute resolution. We need to have people with disability and their families and supporters involved in co-design of the scheme rather than the government treating everyone outside the bureaucracy with suspicion. We need to increase the staff level of the agency. Got 3000 people running. What the government projects to be $31 billion. It's not enough. And I'd encourage any of your listeners who are fed up with the red tape and bureaucracy of the NDIS to give a new mobile go to give Labor a go. Because I and my colleagues are animated and passionate about making sure that people with disability have the right to an ordinary life, the right to some of the basic things that Australians take for granted. It is only when all of Australians of all walks of life are included in our society can I think our country achieve its true potential.

We move from the House of Representatives to the Senate now going from Bill Shorten to the Greens.

We move from the House of Representatives to the Senate now going from Bill Shorten to the Greens.

Jordan Steele-John We have too many people right now, Peter, who are struggling to get the basic supports that they need, that they are entitled to under the NDIS from the scheme. We have many disabled people still being subject to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect and COVID has reminded us all of the ways in which the health care system fails disabled people. The Social Security system, things like the DSP leaves us in poverty and in the Asian states. With the flooding recently, we've seen so many disabled people literally unable to leave their homes, be contacted by Disaster Relief Services and get to our accessible meeting point because the disaster plans are not accessible or inclusive. So what we in the Greens are putting forward is primarily wanting to build upon the successes of the last few years, the reality that together we as a disability community pushed back on and defeated independent assessments. There are more disabled people in political decision making positions and in the media than ever before. And we actually do have right now a disability royal commission going on investigating violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect. So with that, as our basis and foundation, the Greens want to fix the NDIS by doing a couple of rather big bold things. We want to get rid of the unnecessary barriers to entry to the scheme. We want to make it easier to access and remove the age based discrimination so that you can get on the scheme if you're over the age of 65. And crucially, we are calling it this election for the next disability minister after the election to be a disabled person so that finally we can know that there is a minister in a government that is working for us for a space of lived experience as a member of our community.

Jordan Steele-John We have too many people right now, Peter, who are struggling to get the basic supports that they need, that they are entitled to under the NDIS from the scheme. We have many disabled people still being subject to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect and COVID has reminded us all of the ways in which the health care system fails disabled people. The Social Security system, things like the DSP leaves us in poverty and in the Asian states. With the flooding recently, we've seen so many disabled people literally unable to leave their homes, be contacted by Disaster Relief Services and get to our accessible meeting point because the disaster plans are not accessible or inclusive. So what we in the Greens are putting forward is primarily wanting to build upon the successes of the last few years, the reality that together we as a disability community pushed back on and defeated independent assessments. There are more disabled people in political decision making positions and in the media than ever before. And we actually do have right now a disability royal commission going on investigating violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect. So with that, as our basis and foundation, the Greens want to fix the NDIS by doing a couple of rather big bold things. We want to get rid of the unnecessary barriers to entry to the scheme. We want to make it easier to access and remove the age based discrimination so that you can get on the scheme if you're over the age of 65. And crucially, we are calling it this election for the next disability minister after the election to be a disabled person so that finally we can know that there is a minister in a government that is working for us for a space of lived experience as a member of our community.

Staying in the upper house. Now we move from one side of politics to the other. With Malcolm Roberts from One Nation.

Staying in the upper house. Now we move from one side of politics to the other. With Malcolm Roberts from One Nation.

To work properly. The NDIS should first of all enable people with disabilities to live a full life and a good quality of life. It needs to create or enable people to create meaningful education and employment opportunities. It needs to facilitate social and community engagement so people with disabilities are not feeling isolated or left isolated, and people need support to live independently. So they have wonderful aims and that's what the NDIS should be about. You know, it, it is about respect but it also has another side to it and that is the cost involved. So I'm in favour of the NDIS, but we have to be careful. House managed. There's been a constant battle between some in an effort to rein in the costs. There have been some people with disabilities who have been really hit hard and unfairly. We've heard stories about that. That's the legitimate stories that very sad stories are disappointing. And on the other hand, we've heard stories of some administrators, some carers ripping the system off. So what we need is a system that balances responsibility with accountability, choice with accountability for the for the carers and administrators. It's a very difficult road to do to go down, but that's something that the country has to face. I think the NDIS, once it's properly run, will enable that to happen much more quickly in many ways. I dislike and I mentioned that to our visitors in Canberra. I dislike the term disability. So these are the things we need to look at people for what they bring and people with disabilities bring an enormous amount and including a different perspective and that's highly valuable. There are other senators that ministers dislike dealing with because they're not honest, but with us they know that they may not get their way, but they know where we stand and they know what they need to do to get us on board. And they know with clarity that they will never get us on board and some things. So we're very well respected as people who give their word and their word is their bond.

To work properly. The NDIS should first of all enable people with disabilities to live a full life and a good quality of life. It needs to create or enable people to create meaningful education and employment opportunities. It needs to facilitate social and community engagement so people with disabilities are not feeling isolated or left isolated, and people need support to live independently. So they have wonderful aims and that's what the NDIS should be about. You know, it, it is about respect but it also has another side to it and that is the cost involved. So I'm in favour of the NDIS, but we have to be careful. House managed. There's been a constant battle between some in an effort to rein in the costs. There have been some people with disabilities who have been really hit hard and unfairly. We've heard stories about that. That's the legitimate stories that very sad stories are disappointing. And on the other hand, we've heard stories of some administrators, some carers ripping the system off. So what we need is a system that balances responsibility with accountability, choice with accountability for the for the carers and administrators. It's a very difficult road to do to go down, but that's something that the country has to face. I think the NDIS, once it's properly run, will enable that to happen much more quickly in many ways. I dislike and I mentioned that to our visitors in Canberra. I dislike the term disability. So these are the things we need to look at people for what they bring and people with disabilities bring an enormous amount and including a different perspective and that's highly valuable. There are other senators that ministers dislike dealing with because they're not honest, but with us they know that they may not get their way, but they know where we stand and they know what they need to do to get us on board. And they know with clarity that they will never get us on board and some things. So we're very well respected as people who give their word and their word is their bond.

That was Malcolm Roberts there alongside Jordan Steele-John and Bill Shorten as part of the two minute grabs on this week's episode of Talking Vision. And if you'd like to hear from Bill Jordan and Malcolm in Full, the interviews will be available on the Talking Vision Podcast Feed, where all normal episodes can be found. We'll also be uploading extended versions of the interviews with Chris and Evan, so make sure you check them out as well. And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Talking Vision at Vision Australia dot org. That's Talking Vision or one word at vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

That was Malcolm Roberts there alongside Jordan Steele-John and Bill Shorten as part of the two minute grabs on this week's episode of Talking Vision. And if you'd like to hear from Bill Jordan and Malcolm in Full, the interviews will be available on the Talking Vision Podcast Feed, where all normal episodes can be found. We'll also be uploading extended versions of the interviews with Chris and Evan, so make sure you check them out as well. And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Talking Vision at Vision Australia dot org. That's Talking Vision or one word at vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 847466. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's mission Australia dot or.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 847466. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's mission Australia dot or.