Carers forum sparks emotions

CARER ADDRESS: Dignity Party candidate for Mount Gambier Lance Jones addresses a crowd of around 30 people on issues around key issues facing carers at last week's Carers SA candidates forum.
CARER ADDRESS: Dignity Party candidate for Mount Gambier Lance Jones addresses a crowd of around 30 people on issues around key issues facing carers at last week’s Carers SA candidates forum.

DIGNITY Party candidate for Mount Gambier Lance Jones likened the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to “building a plane when you are flying it” at last week’s Carers SA candidates forum.

Mr Jones said while the scheme had its anomalies, he viewed the roll-out of the NDIS as a “revolution taking place that has all the hallmarks of a civil rights movement”.

The Mount Gambier political hopeful joined independent Troy Bell, Liberal’s Craig Marsh, Labor’s Isabel Scriven, Australian Conservatives’ Gregg Bisset, Greens’ Gavin Clarke and independent Richard Sage at Caffe Belgiorno for the event.

Liberal candidate for MacKillop Nick McBride and Labor’s Legislative Council candidate Clare Scriven also participated in the forum to address current and emerging key priorities for carers.

Led by Carers SA regional team leader Sandi Seymour, the nine candidates discussed topics including carer health and well being, work and care and young carers.

Ms Seymour said she was impressed with the candidates’ sincerity when addressing the questions.

“I think the politicians were actually really brave to stand in front of people and be as open and honest as they were,” she said.

“They really took the time to listen to what people were saying.

“Hats off to Troy and Gavin for talking about their life story and both of them were quite emotional about that, and also to Clare and Isabel.”