Greg Smith proves that the NSW Opposition should remain in opposition

(Not that I’m saying the NSW Government has proved it should stay in government, mind you!)

Anyway, the SMH this morning has reported that the NSW Opposition spokesman on legal affairs, Greg Smith, apparently thinks that people with disabilities are dangerous.

Talk about epic fail!

I actually think that Hatzistergos gets this pretty much right:

“The comments made by the shadow attorney-general in Parliament on this issue are outrageous and serve to demonise people with disabilities and mental illness,” Mr Hatzistergos said. “They also underline his complete lack of understanding of the challenges faced by these vulnerable members of the community as they go about their daily lives.”

So yes, he’s milking it for all it’s worth, politically-speaking. But I’ve got to say, I don’t think I want Greg Smith anywhere near any responsibility for policy relating to people with disabilities!

(Oh, and kudos to Hatzistergos for using “people first” language there, too. I don’t agree with a lot of what he says, but he seems to be an astute politician. And while he is very much against any sort of Charter of Rights, many of the public events that I’ve seen him at have been human rights events. Which I take to say more about his astuteness as a politician than his own personal stance on human rights, but I think it’s not a bad thing at all that the NSW AG shows his face at human rights events on a regular basis.)