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Thanks so much for sticking with us and sharing your stories with us of how information has made a difference to your life.
Thanks too for sharing our Facebook posts, liking and commenting away as well as those in the Twittersphere. We love your work and it has really helped show politicians and the government why information matters.
It is only 2 sleeps until the election and there is still no certainty over the future of IDEAS. This is where we are up to:
☑️ We welcomed that Paul Fletcher and the Liberal Party of Australia have clearly said if re-elected they will "commit $45 million to develop a national disability information gateway, including a website and 1800 number, to assist all people with disability and their families to locate and access services in their communities."
☑️ We also recognised that Senator Carol Brown has shared that "Australian Labour Party believes that advocacy and being able to access the right information is vitally important and we look forward to working with IDEAS if we are lucky enough to win the election."
☑️ We have been in touch with the Greens. "Senator Steele-John remains whole heartedly supportive of a disability information service and sees IDEAS as being a strong candidate for the awarding of the relevant contract.”
We've had promising discussions with them about disability info services. BUT until a government is formed no-one can commit the essential immediate funding to keep IDEAS operating. Our doors will close and years of expertise lost if money is not invested on Day 1 of the next Government - we'll need either party to be ready to act.
In the meantime, we will keep fighting to save what our callers have said is a "lifesaving service - thank God for IDEAS". And we will be answering the phones too of course!
Thank you everyone for your support!
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