Opinion: "As the Government allows Omicron to rip through Australia, people with disabilities have become collateral damage"

As someone with a complex disability, I already knew my life was dispensable before the pandemic hit.

I have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease so heavily discriminated against that it took five years and 30+ doctors for me to receive a diagnosis. The lack of understanding about my condition means I’m routinely cut-off from much needed health and disability care. The idea that my life is expendable, is something I’ve already come to grips with. 

Even still, I’m shocked at how disabled and chronically ill people are being treated as collateral damage as Covid rips through Australia.

The virus has spiralled out of control. Hospitals are at breaking point. People are finding it near impossible to get a PCR test. N95 masks are costly. Rapid antigen tests are costly and often, sold out. In the meantime, our Government has changed the definition of a close contact to four hours. 

Doctors, nurses and aged care workers have all been told to continue coming to work until they receive a positive Covid test, even if they’re a close contact. The staffing shortages are so severe in NSW that there are reports Covid-positive nurses have been asked to work while sick, because there is literally no-one else to do their job. 

How did we end up in this epic mess?

In Australia, our politicians had a two-year head start. Two years to watch how events unfolded in other parts of the world. Two years to bolster hospitals, build out pathology services, vaccinate the population, ensure mass distribution of RATs and N95s. What were they doing?

As a cherry on top, it feels like our pollies keep discovering new and disturbing ways to make sure disabled people know how disposable we really are.

From day one, the phrase ‘underlying health conditions’, has been used when reporting Covid deaths to allow healthy people to distance themselves from the reality of the pandemic. It reinforces the idea that ‘it won’t happen to me’. And suggests the only people dying from Covid are those who were already sick and therefore - according to our society – less valuable anyway. 

Over the last few weeks, the disability community has watched, as several other phrases became popularised in the media, while simultaneously chilling us to the core. From #letitrip to #personalresponsibility here are the most appalling one-liners from our politicians, accompanied by the best responses from Twitter:

This is all about taking personal responsibility. The Government can’t do everything - it’s over to the people of our state – Dominic Perrottet, NSW Premier

Everyone in NSW is probably going to get Omicron at some stage. Everyone in Australia – Brad Hazzard, NSW Health Minister

You can’t just make everything free. When someone tells you they want to make something free, someone’s always going to pay for it, and it’s going to be you – Scott Morrison, Prime Minister

And one that really warms my heart, as a vulnerable person who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons…

This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated – Mark McGowan, WA Premier

As the Australian Government allows Omicron to spread across the country, our politicians have been quick to send a message to disabled people: your lives matter less.

Less than healthy people, less than the economy, less than business, less than restaurants and bars and tourism and New Year’s Eve events. 

We should all be disgusted at the way our Government has turned its back on people with disabilities at this critical time. 

Here’s to ‘staring down’ 2022 knowing we’re in it alone.