Top of page
Education and Employment

Disability advocate takes govt ministers to court over employment situation

Metallic silver statue of justice

Government ministers are being taken to court over the way the country’s most vulnerable citizens and their parents who care for them are treated.

An independent disability advocate has filed papers asking the Employment Court to decide if people with intellectual disabilities have the mental capacity to be employers.The government is promising to change this, but advocate Jane Carrigan doesn’t want to wait and is going to court.

The case centres on Auckland mother Christine Fleming, who has cared for her son, Justin, for the past 38 years. Justin suffers from Williams Syndrome, a developmental disorder, which makes him incapable of looking after himself. The level of support she provides includes dressing, showering, managing his finances, taking care of his medical needs and arranging his social outings.

In order to get funding, Ms Fleming has to be an employee of her disabled son, a relationship the Ministry of Health has already admitted is a mere fiction.

Independent disability advocate Jane Carrigan said for too long the ministers and their ministries have indulged in what she calls tricky and technical conduct, by creating sham employment relationships. And in doing so, the ministers had removed themselves from their responsibilities under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act, she said.

You might also like

A woman with a disability through the city with his means of transport. She keeps some roses in her hand. A woman with a disability through the city with his means of transport. She keeps some roses in her hand.

Ministers meet to discuss implementation of Canada Disability Benefit

The Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services…

Young disabled woman in wheelchair show her presentation on a laptop and discuss with her two colleagues in the workplace office room. Young disabled woman in wheelchair show her presentation on a laptop and discuss with her two colleagues in the workplace office room.

Disability inclusion top priority for public employment services in SE Asia

The International Labour Organization (ILO) brought together government officials from…

NDIS building NDIS building

Stronger registration to begin for NDIS sector

The Albanese Government is progressing a new registration system for…

Gavel and law books Gavel and law books

Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill passes Legislative Council

Tasmania’s Legislative Council has passed a Bill that will play…