Grace Tame blasts ‘elitist, whitewashed’ Australian government
Grace Tame has sensationally lashed out at the Albanese government, branding them “old, ableist toffs” in the wake of parliament's first sitting week.
Grace Tame has sensationally lashed out at the Albanese government, branding it “elitist” and “whitewashed” following parliament's first sitting week.
The former Australian of the year took to Instagram on Sunday night to lash out at the government for not allowing an AUSLAN interpreter on the floor of parliament and overlooking a senator with a disability for a role chairing the NDIS committee.
“Must be such a slog for these poor old, elected, ableist toffs to breathe in there, for all the privilege stifling the parliament,” Ms Tame wrote on her Instagram story.
“What a crock of w**k.”
Ms Tame then added that the general public “apologises for making any attempt to try and increase engagement” with the government, branding parliament “elitist”.
“We’ll happily go back to ignoring your echo chamber of whitewashed white noise, if that’s what you’d prefer,” she said.
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This post shows a marked difference from the words of praise she offered Anthony Albanese when he won the 2022 election.
Taking to social media after Mr Albanese’s win over Scott Morrison, the 2021 Australian of the Year posted a photo of her and the incoming PM with a great big smile.
“A grateful nation is crying with you. And who said I didn’t smile at the prime minister?” Tame captioned the photo.
“Here’s to inclusion, integrity, diversity, truth, equity, respect, safety and change. A better future. For all of us. For the planet. Congratulations to @albomp, and to the people of Australia — for a triumph over corruption and abuse. A triumph of hope. Today was a victory for us all.”
Ms Tame, an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, famously refused to smile with Mr Morrison in a photo at The Lodge in January.
Her recent frustrations at the Albanese government appear to be directed at two developments relating to the disabled community within the first week of parliament returning.
In his maiden speech last week, ACT’s first independent senator, David Pocock, criticised the government for refusing to allow an Auslan speaker to translate his speech on the floor of parliament.
Inclusion and accessibility for Australians living with disabilities was a key focus for the independent and he was quick to express his disappointment in being denied the ability to have his speech be accessible for more citizens.
Govt & Opp refused Sen Pocock's request for Auslan interpreting at his maiden speech in Senate due to concern of "the precedent this may set". What precedent: #accessibility and #inclusion? Obvs not a priority for our govt. @AuSenate@pocockdavid
— Deaf Australia (@deafaustralia) July 28, 2022
Auslan: https://t.co/2TbSa1YRKi
“When I was asked by people in our community to have this First Speech live translated into Auslan, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” he said.
“I understand that the difference between Mandy being there in the broadcasting studio and here on the floor of the chamber is the difference between accessibility and inclusion.
“Today we have achieved the former but not the latter. In future, I hope we can achieve both.”
His request to have an Auslan interpreter present in the Senate would have required permission for a “stranger” to stand on the floor, with Mr Pocock required to ask both major parties and the Greens for permission.
This request is usually reserved for visiting dignitaries.
The Greens were supportive of the request but both the government and Opposition denied the move, citing concerns it would set a precedent for more “strangers” to be allowed into the Senate chamber, according to The Guardian.
Instead the Federal government offered to have screens on the floor of the Senate displaying an interpreter.
The other issue addressed in Ms Tame’s Instagram post is the fact that the Senate voted down a bid to have a disabled member of parliament as the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Chair and Deputy Chair positions are held by members of the Labor and Liberal parties.
A vote was called by Greens Senator Larissa Waters to allow Senator Jordon Steele-John to become the Chair given his lived experience with disability.
Mr Steele-John is the only Federal politician who uses a wheelchair and is a respected disability advocate.
However, the major parties banded together to prevent the change.
“The Albanese Government has a clear responsibility to make changes to our NDIS urgently, effectively, and alongside our incredible community,” Mr Steele-John said.
“But voting against this motion shows that their priorities do not include true transformation for our NDIS.
“This was a huge opportunity to start doing that. They failed to see that, and they have failed to act in [the] community interest.”
He said he was “unsurprised by disappointed” by the decision of the major parties to stand together “against disabled leadership and disabled voices as they so often did under Morrison’s Government.”
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