Australian Politics Forum - Abbott is a grub

John S

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Abbott is a grub
Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:09pm

Claire Falls loves soccer. She also has a visual impairment and uses a cane that she calls Dexter when she is out and about. When she heard that Australia’s Paralympic Football team had lost its entire $175,000 funding she got writing to the Prime Minister with a heartfelt letter.

Tens of thousands of Australians have supported the petition to save the pararoos since it was launched.

Claire Falls / Via Twitter: @eyesofadream

Claire’s Letter To The PM

I love playing football and am playing my fourth season this year. I was diagnosed with low vision last year when I was playing with my junior league team. Having low vision for me means that I don’t have any 3 dimensional vision or depth perception. This obviously makes playing the game I love very, very hard.

Yesterday I read the article about the Pararoo’s funding going from $175,000 a year to nothing I couldn’t believe it!

I know that is not a lot of money to go around when it comes to supporting sports. I can see that because professional women in sport still have to work to make ends meet, and I know that there is even less for athletes with a disability. I even know that there is only a very small amount dedicated to blind sports.

Yesterday when I read about the Pararoo’s funding being cut off completely I couldn’t help but be angry and sad and disappointed.

I was upset to listen to the video on the Australian Sports Commission Website about how funding gets divided up, and I it makes me feel angry to think that football should ever be about winning medals or to read that funding was cut off because of the Pararoo’s ranking.

The Socceroo’s world ranking is at 62nd the Matilda’s are 9th, are they going to have there funding axed too? Of course they aren’t there would be a huge outcry!

Since when is sport meant to be about how many medals a team wins? What would happen if every Mum or Dad said to their kid ‘I’m not going to pay your football fees unless you win’?

Now that I have had time to adjust to my low vision it its not so bad but I still have to work ten times as hard as my new teammates to get the same results. For me there is no other option in football that suits my needs other than to play in a mainstream league, But the thing is their are some kids out there that have much bigger limitations than me.

If the Football Federation and the Australian Sports Commission are taking away the money for our countries only Paralympics football team that allows athletes with a disability to play, what hope is there for us kids? What do we have to aim for? What happens to our hero’s? How is that promoting encouragement, respect or inclusion?

My question and challenge for you is, if I can get 175,000 supporters to pledge and provide $1 each will you match it dollar for dollar?

From,
Claire Falls

Tony Abbott's Form Letter Response

Dear Claire,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.

One of the most enjoyable things about being Prime Minister is hearing from young people like yourself.

I congratulate you on taking an interest in our system of government.

We are a great country and a great people.

One day it will be the responsibility of you and your generation to lead our country.

It says something positive about you that you were willing to take the time to write and share with me your thoughts about the issues that face our country.

Our democracy truly rests on the idea that every individual counts and everyone can have his or her say on the issues that matter most to them.

Thank you for your correspondence and I send you my best wishes.

The PM’s response sounds mighty familiar.

It’s not the first time the PM has been caught out trying to dodge questions from young people.

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Swagman Gold Member Offline Beware of cheap imitations...... Posts: 15095 Illawarra NSW Gender:	Re: Abbott is a grub Reply #1 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm personal attack removed
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DaS Energy

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #2 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:18pm

John S wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:09pm:

Claire Falls loves soccer. She also has a visual impairment and uses a cane that she calls Dexter when she is out and about. When she heard that Australia’s Paralympic Football team had lost its entire $175,000 funding she got writing to the Prime Minister with a heartfelt letter.

Tens of thousands of Australians have supported the petition to save the pararoos since it was launched.

http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-07/18/2/enhanced/webdr05/enhanced-8569-1405...
Claire Falls / Via Twitter: @eyesofadream

Claire’s Letter To The PM

I love playing football and am playing my fourth season this year. I was diagnosed with low vision last year when I was playing with my junior league team. Having low vision for me means that I don’t have any 3 dimensional vision or depth perception. This obviously makes playing the game I love very, very hard.

Yesterday I read the article about the Pararoo’s funding going from $175,000 a year to nothing I couldn’t believe it!

I know that is not a lot of money to go around when it comes to supporting sports. I can see that because professional women in sport still have to work to make ends meet, and I know that there is even less for athletes with a disability. I even know that there is only a very small amount dedicated to blind sports.

Yesterday when I read about the Pararoo’s funding being cut off completely I couldn’t help but be angry and sad and disappointed.

I was upset to listen to the video on the Australian Sports Commission Website about how funding gets divided up, and I it makes me feel angry to think that football should ever be about winning medals or to read that funding was cut off because of the Pararoo’s ranking.

The Socceroo’s world ranking is at 62nd the Matilda’s are 9th, are they going to have there funding axed too? Of course they aren’t there would be a huge outcry!

Since when is sport meant to be about how many medals a team wins? What would happen if every Mum or Dad said to their kid ‘I’m not going to pay your football fees unless you win’?

Now that I have had time to adjust to my low vision it its not so bad but I still have to work ten times as hard as my new teammates to get the same results. For me there is no other option in football that suits my needs other than to play in a mainstream league, But the thing is their are some kids out there that have much bigger limitations than me.

If the Football Federation and the Australian Sports Commission are taking away the money for our countries only Paralympics football team that allows athletes with a disability to play, what hope is there for us kids? What do we have to aim for? What happens to our hero’s? How is that promoting encouragement, respect or inclusion?

My question and challenge for you is, if I can get 175,000 supporters to pledge and provide $1 each will you match it dollar for dollar?

From,
Claire Falls

Tony Abbott's Form Letter Response

Dear Claire,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.

One of the most enjoyable things about being Prime Minister is hearing from young people like yourself.

I congratulate you on taking an interest in our system of government.

We are a great country and a great people.

One day it will be the responsibility of you and your generation to lead our country.

It says something positive about you that you were willing to take the time to write and share with me your thoughts about the issues that face our country.

Our democracy truly rests on the idea that every individual counts and everyone can have his or her say on the issues that matter most to them.

Thank you for your correspondence and I send you my best wishes.

The PM’s response sounds mighty familiar.

It’s not the first time the PM has been caught out trying to dodge questions from young people.

That letter was not Penned by Clair, but a child abuser using the child for their own gains!

Abbott appears to have picked that as well!

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philperth2010

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #3 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:56pm

I agree John, cutting funding that enables disabled people to participate in a tournament other nations embrace shows opportunity is only offered to people whom are considered worthy.....This Government has shown it does not care about people with disabilities where participation in such events would provide them with pride and achievement otherwise denied to them.....Abbott's response did not address the concerns of this young person and misses the point completely!!!

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/our-national-paralympic-soccer-team-just-g...

Quote:

It’s unbelievable - We’ve just found out Australia’s national Paralympic Soccer team, have had their funding slashed to nothing. $0.00!

The Pararoos - the Paralympic version of the Socceroos - are proudly ranked 10th in the world. Playing for the team is a dream for thousands of kids with cerebral palsy, brain injuries – a dream cruelly ended the same week we’re celebrating the game we love.

The ASC must reverse this decision and save the Pararoos. It’s discrimination. Other Australian teams, and other sports are getting huge amounts of funding, in fact, overall funding to able-bodied sports is increasing this year!

We only need $175,000 a year to run a couple of training camps and get to an international tournament - even that’s running on the smell of an oily rag but it’s enough to keep the team alive - now they’ve cut it all. It’s gutting.

We need the ASC and the Sports Minister to give us a shot here. It’s discrimination to pour huge amounts of money into able-bodied sports and kill off paralympic ones.

Sport is a fantastic vehicle for young kids with varying forms of brain injury and cerebral palsy, to build their confidence, to learn social skills. At time where football is becoming more and more popular, now those kids won't have a Pararoos squad to aim for.

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 78311 Gender:	Re: Abbott is a grub Reply #4 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm he couldn't even be honest with a child ....
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cods

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #5 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

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Its time

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #6 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:17pm

Certainly no low Tony won't stoop to, can't even give a disabled child a straight answer, who can you trust, yeah right.

I wonder if Richard Honan and the Manildra group are still getting their funding from the LNP, those poor billionaires need all the help they can get, just yesterday one turned up to the club in a 2013 and not a 2014 Austin Martin, the sneers from the other members nearly pushed him over the edge.

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philperth2010

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #7 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money yet these athletes are being funded with millions of taxpayers dollars in sports that some people have never heard of.....The WA Government is spending 1.2 billion dollars on a sports stadium for the AFL who have billions of dollars or their own.....I think you have missed the point about offering an opportunity to these wonderful young people who otherwise would never get to participate in such an event.....I would rather see these young people compete and experience something wonderful for them than waste my taxpayers money on lawn bowls!!!

Huh

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
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greggerypeccary

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #8 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

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philperth2010

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #9 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:21pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

Take your pick Greg

Wink

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)

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salad in

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #10 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:29pm

John S wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:09pm:

Claire Falls loves soccer. She also has a visual impairment and uses a cane that she calls Dexter when she is out and about.

It gets worse. Apparently Abbott followed little Claire into Tiffany (a clothes store) and waited for Claire to be distracted. He took Dexter and with a cruel laugh he watched from outside the store as Claire bumped into chairs, customers, fixtures and other obstacles. Is there no end to Abbott's vileness?

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The ALP, the progressive party, the party of ideas, the workers' friend, is the only Australian political party to roast four young Australians in roof cavities. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #11 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:30pm

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:21pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

Take your pick Greg

Wink

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GOP = Guardians Of Paedophiles

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DaS Energy

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #12 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:31pm

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:21pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

Take your pick Greg

Wink

No Pararoos at Glasgow!

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philperth2010

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #13 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:34pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:30pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:21pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

Take your pick Greg

Wink

I thought the Commonwealth game was an event in its own right Greg.....Perhaps I am wrong???

Huh

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Abbott is a grub
Reply #14 - Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:35pm

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:34pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:30pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:21pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:20pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:18pm:

cods wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Swagman wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:12pm:

John S is a grub

the question is how much of these fundings are borrowed at interest rates that are crippling this country...sorry I do sympathies...but really its only a game.. I would much rather money went to maybe saving her eyesight..

the cane she is using was also funded it didnt happen overnight...someone was paid to invent it..

I am sorry but as far as I am concerned $175.000pa for soccer is not on...

write to the FIFA they have huge money...

Our athletes are in Glasgow at the moment competing in an event some people think is a waste of money ...

What event?

Take your pick Greg

Wink

I thought the Commonwealth game was an event in its own right Greg.....Perhaps I am wrong???

Huh

Oh. I see now.

Didn't realise that was on (just did some googling).

As you were Embarrassed

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