The Philippines are full of talented, trained and caring young people who are eager to go to other countries and help those in need. They are more than happy to come and stay with a disabled person (young or old) at their home 24/7 for years on end on a very reasonable salary - well above anything they could receive in the Philippines.

No Australian is willing to do the same for someone who is not a close member of their family - and even that is rare.

The only obstacle is the Australian government, for not allowing them a visa to come.

As for the cost of housing - here too the obstacle is the Australian government: if only they allowed people to build their homes freely in the country where land is cheap, there would be no shortage of housing, especially for the disabled who don't need to be close to city centres for work.

Hear hear and well argued Yuyustu.

There are some out there who seem to think kids barely surviving on quarter of an average income, can somehow afford to pay someone else a full wage as a full time carer.

And we seem to have promoted self centred individualism to the point, where it takes presidency over all else, including caring for a disabled family member. Which makes the unusual kindness of strangers even more special!

That said, what you've said with regard to the Philippines must also hold true for other countries!?

Perhaps that is where the law could be altered to make any intended union stand the test of time; by extending the trial time to a decade; given sham marriages rarely if ever stand the test of 3 years, let lone 10!

With that change in place, it shouldn't be necessary or even desirable to continue to make intending couples wait as long as what, three years to be together!?

Suppose that requirement was extended to all engaged couples, some of who could be expecting a child!? Different treatment is just discrimination, pure and simple!

And you only need one able bodied partner, genuine consent and irrepressible love to make a baby!

A disabled body doesn't necessarily extend to the emotions and matters of the heart; and intimacy, be there be a disability; or indeed, some age related issue!

That said, some with Professor Hawking's level of disability, may find any prospect of a physical union well beyond their level of ability, regardless of normal natural desire and affairs of the heart!

Which can be as good as new, up to the day before you die, in both sexes!

Even so, when it comes to nursing homes, consenting couples are too often forced to endure years of unnatural separation, given the rigid dehumanizing scruples of the carers?

Stop treating disabled or aged humans as if the were non humans!

After all Senators, you and or yours, could be old and or infirm yourselves some day, and need normal human affection/companionship more than ever!
Rhrosty.

It would appear to me that the Ann Newland's of this country should stop complaining the taxpayer has given up on her 19 year old, & pick up the load of her daughter herself. It appears we aren't doing enough, although it is more than she wants to do.

Di reading between the lines, you carefully avoid spelling out just how much you want the taxpayer to spend on these disabled. Perhaps even you believe your ideas are simply ridiculously extravagant in our now overburdened economy.

You appear to be advocating a million dollar house & at least 4 full time carers each for these people. Haven't you heard, we are having to reduce the cost of welfare everywhere to try to get the budget back to some kind of order. It is time to get real Di. I would suggest you don't hold your breath for the NDIS to fulfil your wish list. By the time the big spending cuts in, there is not a chance in hell we will be able to afford it. We are more likely to be cutting services, not growing them.

We offer our very frail pensioners an hour or two of care, a couple or three times a week, Should we stop that to give full time support for your chosen group?

I think it would be nice if those people who have, or want to, hand the responsibility of caring for their now grown kids to the taxpayer, were to say thanks for picking up our job for us, rather than bitch from the sidelines, that the taxpayer isn't spending enough.

It is reasonable for the taxpayer to house, feed, clothe & supply medical care for your disabled offspring, as we do for other sick or injured. However if you want extras, perhaps that is for you to supply.

Hasbeen, it is impossible to do justice to the extent to which the Newland family has supported Michelle in a single quote. Michelle's digital story goes some way toward achieving this, I do invite you to view it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO_PAB7Yogc.

This digital story also highlights the tremendous benefit in investing scarce public resources in people with severe brain injury, as that will prevent higher costs in the long term. By providing appropriate and timely rehabilitation, significant reductions in life time care costs can be achieved, and Michelle is an example of someone who is now contributing back, instead of continuing to remain totally dependent on high levels of support.

Not everyone has a family. Not all families are able to turn their lives upside down to provide the level of support to be able to take their family member home. Michelle would never have realised her potential languishing in a nursing home. It is sobering to consider the nearly 200 other young people that will be admitted to aged care in Australia this year with just as much potential as Michelle.

"Young people should not be forced to live in nursing homes because there is nowhere else for them."

"It is sobering to consider the nearly 200 other young people that will be admitted to aged care in Australia this year"

Only the young? Where is the compassion for many more old people who are thrown into that garbage bin once they can no longer serve their own daily needs?

One may have worked hard and saved their whole life so they can spend the winter of their life in dignity, but alas the cruel Australian government will not allow entry to those who can and are willing to provide them with that humble wish.