Let me begin by saying that my coalition has not been engaged in the consultation up to now. I'm not in a position to and I don't propose to comment, because we haven't....
Our advocacy focus is accessibility. There are very good disability poverty experts. When it comes to issues like how much the payment should be and who should be eligible and how quickly we need it, they are the folks to turn to. Our focus is on what ensures that the legislation will work and what eliminates barriers from legislation.
On the issue of co-creation, let me just summarize what I understand.
Number one, the group that spoke of that before you was Disability Without Poverty, which is an important voice on disability poverty issues. What they said they mean by it is that people with disabilities will have an equal seat at the decision-making table. In fact, in their presentation on October 31, they said—I'm paraphrasing—it's more than just consulting and engaging with them.
Now, I don't propose to speak for them. That would totally not be appropriate. However, I can say this. Nothing in this bill gives people with disabilities any seat in the cabinet room. They are the deciders. Cabinet is the decider. Moreover, we don't even get in the cabinet room, because they are secret proceedings. The minister, in fairness, has never—at least never in anything that I saw in public debates on the bill in the House or at this committee—committed to co-creation. She committed to engagement and consultation.
I would conclude with this. It is valuable, of course, to hear our voice, but we need to build it in so we get to know what we're giving input on. That means we get to know the options on the table and get to speak to those who actually decide, not any intermediaries. Now, that raises practical problems, because there are a lot of us.