The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

(Video at foot of page)

The Good

Mel Leckie is a disabled young woman from South Australia. She is passionate about issues and discrimination affecting disabled people. I've had a look at her website, where she lists some of her work toward overcoming issues affecting her and all disabled people in Australia. Mel spoke from the audience during a speech by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillards address on proposed improvements for disabled people in Australia (about the 3/12/2012). You can hear what Mel had to say in the video at the bottom of this entry.

The Bad

The day following, Piers Akerman had this to say on his blog:
"I have just been informed, by a reliable source, that heckler at Gillards press conference, was in fact not a heckler, but an ALP plant. She is Mel Leckie from Adelaide , she has been a huge supporter of the Greens and Labor for ages! She was allowed to pretend to heckle Gillard so then Gillard would be able to again pretend to listen to her plight, and then say in public that she was going to help her! The dead giveaway was when Leckie was heard very very clearly , was not yelling, she was given a mike out of the blue!
Its sickening to see Gillard use the disabled in this way and its sickening to see the disable allowing themselves to be used in this way!. This is a very evil and manipulative woman."

The Ugly

Whether Akerman was correct or not, bloggers have picked up this train of thought, and used it to shift the focus from people with disabilities to a Government and Prime Minister who seem to lack any scruples. Disabled people deserve better, we all know what the ALP/Green Coalition are up to, they'll do anything to stay in power. Disabled people deserve to be heard, and have a fair go.
If Akerman is correct, shame on you Gillard and co, manipulating issues that affect people so seriously to help you in the polls is contemptible.