“IT IS time to ensure equity and justice for people with a disability and mental health issues,” newly announced Dignity Party candidate for Mount Gambier Lance Jones said at his launch yesterday.
“South Australia needs to ensure the rights of people with mental illness and disability are upheld in all facets of life – including business, access and the justice system.”
A lawyer, academic and successful local business operator of the Comrec Australia office in Mount Gambier, Mr Jones has helped to provide many people with disabilities equal opportunities throughout their lives.
Working in the disability sector throughout his entire career, he has held jobs as a disability care worker, youth worker, sport and recreation instructor and as a professor in third world countries on United Nations programs.
Now standing for the seat of Mount Gambier with the Dignity Party, Mr Jones said he was committed to raising awareness of people with disabilities and other issues that require dignity.
“Everything I have done throughout my life has been fuelled by a passion for human rights,” he said.
“Nothing irks me more than people who sit there and say ‘isn’t that terrible, someone ought to do something about it’ – who is that someone?
“I guess I have always been motivated to be the someone.”
Striving to support Kelly Vincent’s re-election and continue the Dignity Party’s strong regional advocacy as the Mount Gambier candidate, Mr Jones said the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide great opportunities for the local community.
“There is a revolution taking place that is quite frankly one of the most exciting revolutions since the civil rights movement,” he said.
“The introduction of the NDIS has created conditions for growth and opportunity across the community and encouraging small businesses to take advantage of these opportunities will greatly assist people with disability and mental health issues to secure the support and inclusion they need.”
Excited to announce Mr Jones as the local candidate, Ms Vincent said he will bring a fresh approach coupled with local experience if elected.
“Listening to the feedback from the South East community during regional visits last year, it troubles me that there is still unrest, uncertainty and at times unfairness surrounding the NDIS,” she said.
“It is clear that where the NDIS is working for people, it’s working really well, where it is not working, it is rocky and very difficult to navigate.
“Dignity Party offers a team that actually understands real South Australians and Lance Jones knows what it’s like to wait for access to services in the state’s regions or to be let down by health, disability or aged care services when you live outside of metropolitan Adelaide.”
