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We are now at over 9,000 signatures!! Disabled people, whānau and support workers across Aotearoa are speaking out against the Disability Support Services Bill. Green Party disability spokesperson Kahurangi Carter says the Greens “oppose this bill” and are “disappointed to see this bill being rushed through Parliament without meaningful consultation, and the impact this bill could have for disabled people and our support workers.” Labour disability spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan warns the bill “increases uncertainty for disabled people and carers”, risks “pushing disabled people and carers further into poverty”, and that Labour “will not be supporting this bill at first reading.” This is not an endorsement of any political party, but it shows that when our community raises the alarm, MPs are listening. The petition closes on the evening of 1 July, so it is urgent that everyone who wants to signs and shares it now.
To: MP Louise Upston
Stop the Discriminatory Bill Removing Disabled People’s Rights – Ensure Fair Due Process
We’re calling on Parliament to scrap the Disability Support Services Bill entirely. Any law that takes rights away from disabled people and carers should never be allowed. This bill is fundamentally discriminatory and must not go ahead.
This bill will strip disabled people and their carers of legal rights that other New Zealanders still have. It cancels existing court cases, denies access to justice, and treats disabled people and their whānau as less than equal under the law.
Why is this important?
Disabled people and their carers already face huge barriers just to live, work and care. This bill sets a dangerous precedent and strips away legal rights that other New Zealanders still have. It cancels existing court cases, shuts down claims that were filed properly and on time, and stops disabled people and their families from asking the courts to decide if they have been underpaid for years of essential care work. The bill will also prevent the Human Rights Commission and the Health and Disability Commissioner from taking action against the government for unlawful discrimination against people with disabilities and their whānau.
No other group of workers is being targeted and exploited in this way. If any other employer tried to pass a law that said “you can’t take us to court any more, and your current cases are wiped”, people would be outraged. Yet that is what this bill does to disabled people and their families, while politicians claim it 'changes nothing'.
This is about whether disabled people and their carers are treated as equal under the law. We should not accept a two‑tier system where some people can still enforce their rights in court, while disabled people and their families are told their rights can be taken away by a fast‑tracked bill.
Disabled communities and their whānau are already facing unfair circumstances and enormous strains. Now, more than ever, we need your support to stop this government from weaponising our needs and making us feel less valued in society.
Make sure to sign up for further updates when you sign the petition so we can let you know the details of the select committee process.