Page 3209 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
$74 million. This is an increase of two-thirds since we have come into government. This budget’s funding will also go directly to services for individuals and families. We have committed $1.74 million over four years to provide priority respite services for up to four weeks for older carers aged 65 and older who are caring for a child with a disability. This is real money making a real difference where it is needed.
I am pleased that this year’s budget also includes funding of $425,000 over four years to support families with a child with autism or suspected autism and to assist families to coordinate and maximise the effectiveness of available services.
The work of carers has been recognised in the budget with $424,000 over four years to establish a carer’s advocacy service. The carer’s advocacy service will enable carers to better make use of existing services and programs, reducing administrative and other impediments to accessing supports. People on low incomes, pensioners and other financially disadvantaged ACT households will benefit from a $20 increase in energy concessions, with the CPI being applied each year to keep pace with the cost of living.
This year, the government continues to strengthen the supports for vulnerable families. We have provided $70,000 to the Warehouse Circus to provide circus skills training for at-risk young people, people with disabilities and people from low income households. This government has expanded the base funding to support children in out-of-home care by providing an additional $5.6 million over four years in recognition of the cost and the increase in the number of children and young people coming into care. This will help organisations such as the Foster Care Association of the ACT, the Richmond Fellowship and Barnardos to continue the valuable work that they do with our most vulnerable youth.
I would also like to note the estimates committee’s interest in kinship carers. This government recognises the incredible work done by kinship carers. We have established a working group that includes representatives from the kinship carers association to progress the development of fact sheets and handbooks for carers. We also support carers with comprehensive training programs, for example, understanding and responding to complex trauma. There are five scheduled training programs for the remainder of the year.
I know there has been some talk here today about kinship carers and evidence, but I just need to put it on record that some of the kinship carers that have made contact with me and my office do not necessarily support the opinion that was expressed in the estimates committee. Indeed, they express high regard for the support that has been provided to them by the government.
But Mrs Dunne continues to misrepresent and to spread misinformation about my support to kinship carers. Let me state, yet again for the benefit of Mrs Dunne, that this government has committed funds to kinship carers, and I intend to have all funds appropriated that will go to kinship carer support. I absolutely refute Mrs Dunne’s words that we do nothing for kinship carers.
It is really a bit of an outrage and it is quite damning on the Liberal Party that Mrs Dunne has just insulted each and every carer and protector here in the department.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video