“There are always
going to be challenges juggling the front bench and your electorate,” the new
Cabinet Minister said. “But one of the advantages I have is that Heffron isn’t
too far from the ministerial office. In fact, I can see it from here,” she
said, smiling infectiously.
Ms Keneally has been
promoted to the front bench following this year’s State election, taking over
the Ageing and Disability Services portfolio.
She has received
ample attention as the first US-born NSW Minister, but maintained that being
American-born is not really relevant in terms of what she brings to the role.
“Forty per cent of the Heffron electorate was born overseas, so I would imagine
that many of the people of Heffron would be happy that a fellow immigrant was
in the Cabinet, arguing on their behalf,” she said.
It may have been the
sharp, yet laid-back manner of the MP that has won her the favour of her
electorate. She received a clear majority of 58 per cent of first preference
votes in the March election, bringing home the win in an otherwise lacklustre
campaign by the Labor Party.
Ms Keneally said she
was thrilled to be selected for her new portfolio. “I was sworn in on a Sunday
and then on Tuesday morning at 6am I was on a plane to meet with the Federal
Ministers to negotiate a new funding agreement for disability services.
She said, “It was
certainly a ‘jump straight into it’ sort of event, but it was good to be there
because we have a strong view that the current government funding is not
sufficient. It was important for NSW not to miss a beat, despite the change of
ministers.”
The State Government
has committed $1.3 billion to improve disability services over the next four
years. The funding package will include increasing respite care, day programs,
increasing transition to work programs and early intervention for children with
disabilities. “It’s about strengthening families so that children with
disabilities can grow up in their family. It’s also about increasing adult
participation in the community and in work,” she said.
In terms of ageing
policies, Ms Keneally plans to hold a Seniors’ Summit later this year which will bring
together senior citizens, academics and services providers to look at issues
faced by an aging population. “It’s no secret that the number of people over 65
will double in the next 20 years. There will be demands on both mainstream and
specialist services.”
The Government has
introduced an ‘Ageing well in New South Wales’ policy which will encompass
things such as the $18 million ‘Healthy at Home’ program and the ‘Care Call’
program, which will make phone calls to elderly people in public housing who
are at risk of being isolated.
“I think ageing is
going to be quite an interesting part of my new role,” she said. “Almost 50 per
cent of our Cabinet is new. It’s about new faces, fresh energy and new ideas.
I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Source: South Sydney Herald May 2007 http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/