Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has refused to clarify comments that spending public funds on elderly LGBTI people is a “waste of money”.
Last week, Hockey told the Sunday Telegraph that programs to train aged care staff in how to deal with increasing numbers of LGBTI seniors who may face discrimination should be paid for by private operators, not taxpayers.
A spokesman for Hockey told the Star Observer that the shadow treasurer stood by the comment and claimed the objection was not because the funding was for the LGBTI community, but because of the program itself.
“Mr Hockey was asked to respond to a specific question regarding the use of taxpayer funds,” the spokesman said.
“He was not singling out any particular group in the community nor was he denigrating any particular group.”
But when asked if Hockey also thought funding for other groups such as Aboriginal seniors or a new program for seniors from non-English speaking backgrounds was wasteful spending, the spokesman refused to clarify.
Aged care provider UnitingCare last week said Hockey’s comments were off the mark and out of touch with the LGBTI community and their aged care needs.
“There is a growing awareness in the aged care industry that the LGBTI communities have been under-represented and face fears of discrimination,” UnitingCare Ageing director Steve Teulan said.
“Improving the acceptability and accessibility of aged care through training of aged care staff is appropriate and welcome.”
UnitingCare Ageing appointed a LGBTI project officer in 2011.
Hockey did not elaborate on whether the program would be cut under a Liberal government or if the Liberal Party would make any attempt to get private operators to provide LGBTI sensitivity training.
Ageing Minister Mark Butler said Hockey was determined to cut LGBTI programs from the budget.
“The LGBTI strategy was a recommendation of the Productivity Commission and we took that recommendation very seriously,“ Butler said.
“I shudder to think what other support for the LGBTI community would be cut if Joe Hockey ever got near the treasury benches.”作者: xblues 时间: 3-9-2012 13:36
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同性恋和其他人一样纳税，但是同性恋却没有结婚权，抚养权，和老年照顾的权利。你当同性恋都是老黄牛么？作者: 忘忧草 时间: 3-9-2012 15:56 标题: 回复 #2 xblues 的帖子 等你老了，办个同性恋养老院，也算给同志们做点贡献~作者: xblues 时间: 3-9-2012 16:28
提示: 作者被禁止或删除, 无法发言标题: 回复 #3 忘忧草 的帖子 我和很多典型的同性恋一样，都是纳税大户，很少能够领到什么政府补助或者什么抵税的。而可以想象，等我老了，就是需要政府照顾的时候，由于社会的偏见，以及很多同性恋没有子女和伴侣，老龄同性恋对面临着很多特殊的社会问题。需要特殊照顾。目前澳洲刚刚通过了给老龄同性恋人的拨款。
