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May 3rd is the day Aussies go to the polls again, or for some a first time, but there's a cloud that hangs over it with memories of a previous election… but not one from our own country…
Wind the clock back to November 2024 and after months long buildup to the presidential election, Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to return back to power. With consequences that are long standing for not only the general US population, but a precedent set confirming a worldwide shift of power going further towards the right. Back in Australia the flow on effects are obvious, Clive Palmer launching the ‘Trumpet of Patriots’ party throwing big money into ‘traditional values’ that are being represented in the US, as well as Liberal leader Peter Dutton being given further freedom to implement Trump-like principles into his upcoming campaign.
However with all this comes a major warning for the disability community especially in relation to the NDIS, as we see the impact already setting in with rising costs for essential medicine and health devices through countrywide cuts of healthcare services. The previous Biden administration’s insulin price cap had kept prices low with people in need able to pay less than $75 for all five diabetes medications, but has now risen to up to $800 just for an individual medication, which is far from sustainable for people on an insulin pump or similar devices. Meanwhile an Epipen which is priced at $66 in Australia blows out to $300, which are typically sold exclusively in a double pack putting the actual overall cost to $600.
In Australia there are 6.8 million people aged 18 or over who are living with a disability or long term health condition, which is a staggering 40 percent of the vote in the election, a large percentage of voters which cannot be ignored by any party wanting to even win a seat in parliament, yet alone clawing enough through to form a majority government. The fate of parties are in our control if we band together to make sure we vote for not just what we want, but what we need.
The one thing that any voter going to the polls cannot compromise on, whoever you vote for, is essential health issues where people do not have a choice but to shell out for these items regardless of whether they are grossly overpriced. With such a divide and conquer of the less fortunate mentality of the US, we must push back against US ideology politicians that are benefiting from the success of Trump for the betterment of us all.
The big question to fall in this election, is what price are you willing to put on the cost of life?