p>Sussan Ley must immediately restore the subsidy to Australians suffering from debilitating Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) conditions after admitting the Government’s heartless Budget cut was based on the wrong advice.
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Sussan Ley must immediately restore the subsidy to Australians suffering from debilitating Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) conditions after admitting the Government’s heartless Budget cut was based on the wrong advice.
After admitting she acted on wrong information, the Minister must immediately apologise to the affected families for the anxiety and distress she has caused with this heartless, incompetent decision and restore the grant.
Around 900 Australians are diagnosed with rare genetic conditions such as Phenylketonuria (PKU) and Homocystinuria (HCU) which require them to have an expensive and protein restricted diet to prevent brain damage.
Without warning or consultation the Abbott Government abolished the small subsidy, worth around $250 per month, which enables families to purchase the special food they need.
Labor raised this issue in the Parliament, but the Budget cut and our concerns for these families were repeatedly dismissed by both the Prime Minister and Health Minister.
"Foods for people managing protein metabolic disorder are now more readily available and cheaper than when the programme began”
Sussan Ley, 25 May 2015
“There are now far more regular supermarket items, like cornflour that can replace wheat flour and rice milk that can replace dairy milk, for people managing protein disorders.”
Tony Abbott, Question Time, 26 May 2015
Late yesterday in an interview with 2UE’s Justin Smith, Sussan Ley has admitted she acted on wrong advice.
Despite this clear admission, the minister has failed to reinstate the grant.
Instead of trying to sneak out her backflip on a Friday night radio interview, the minister must relieve the 900 families of the anxiety she has caused through her heartless Budget cut.
Labor calls on the minister to immediately restore the grant, in full, and apologise to the families for the distress she caused by her incompetence.