Submission 2757
Dear Committee Secretariat, Please find attached and below my personal submission to the inquiry into the proposed NDIS amendment legislation in the form of an original song titled When Everybody Belongs. I am submitting this piece as a disabled person, advocate, leader and singer/songwriter. While I am also the CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), and DANA will be making a separate organisational submission to the inquiry , this submission is made in a personal capacity. I support the need for ongoing reform to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the NDIS. However, I also believe it is important for the Committee to understand the emotional and human impact current public discourse and proposed reforms are having on many people with disability, our families, advocates and communities. The song reflects themes of belonging, exclusion, contribution, dignity and hope. It was written in response to the growing sense of grief and fear many disabled Australians are experiencing as public conversations increasingly frame people with disability in terms of cost rather than human value and contribution. At the same time, the song intentionally looks forward. It reflects my belief that Australia becomes stronger, kinder and richer when people with disability are fully included in the life of our communities and country. I have attached the lyrics and you can listen to the audio recording at: hhttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/urhwx6lpyv6csr09gyfy7/When-Eve1ybody-Belongs.mp3 ?rlkey=0clm2g9jwau3n5tnhepdnnzzz&dl= 1. Due to the short inquiry timeframes, I have only had capacity to offer a simple demo recording intended to accompany the written lyrics and convey the tone and emotion of the piece. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the inquiry. Kind regards, Emma Bennison MBA GAICD
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Submission 2757
When Everybody Belongs
Verse 1
Don’t ask us to go backwards there was nothing for us there we learned to live around the edges of a world that didn’t care the doors were closed the rules were set our voices pushed aside Yet still somehow we bore the blame for being locked outside. we were never broken we were never wrong we were kept outside the story tough we’ve been here all along
Chorus
we’re not the problem we’re not the cost we’re all the dreams this country never knew it lost We need to build a kinder future let everybody in Cause this country’s so much richer when everybody belongs
Verse 2
now they speak of cuts and savings like there’s no human price while disabled people lie awake and try to stay polite
And we know that budgets matter
And that the books must balance too
But not by taking from the people fighting to get through. we were never broken we were never wrong we were kept outside the story tough we’ve been here all along
Chorus
Submission 2757
we’re not the problem we’re not the cost we’re all the dreams this country never knew it lost We need to build a fairer future let everybody in Cause we know our country’s richer
when everybody belongs BRIDGE imagine every child growing up without fear
Imagine every child knowing they are wanted here imagine all the brilliance just waiting in the wings imagine what could happen if we changed everything CHORUS we’re not the problem we’re not the cost we’re all the dreams this country never knew it lost We need to build a safer future let everybody in Cause this country’s so much richer
when everybody belongs
REPRISE
Don’t ask us to go backwards
There was nothing for us there.