Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Newcastle for this motion, a motion which I, as the federal member for Petrie, and I think all coalition members wholeheartedly agree with—and so thank you for this motion. The words 'noble', 'brave' and 'selfless' come to mind when I think of carers—those three words do pop into my mind. Carers provide unpaid care and support to people right around this nation: people with a disability; people with a mental illness; people with a chronic condition, perhaps terminal; children that are palliative; children that are dying; alcohol or drug related issues; and those who are frail of age—aged care.

There are close to three million carers around Australia who provide formal care, as the member for Fowler mentioned a moment ago. They are an integral part of our health system and I want to thank every single one of them for what they do. Thank you, our nation is better for the efforts you put in day in, day out. As was mentioned a moment ago, we know that they contribute, in a financial sense, to something like over $60 billion equivalent in unpaid work, almost 3.8 per cent of our GDP. For this, we do thank you. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning, Fiona, who has lost a child and is still a carer for one of her sons, she mentioned some of the challenges that she has been through and that others have been through. These include financial costs, and we know as a government and as a nation that we do provide some carers' payments, but they are very small—it is pretty well unpaid— and so the financial costs on families are significant. These carers cannot work full-time and they are not able to earn a full-time wage because they are busy caring for people in their lives.

There is strain on family members. The emotional work that goes into caring for people is significant and that can affect carers' spouses—it might be their husbands or their wives—and so relationships can suffer. If you are caring for a child, there might be other siblings who do not get as much attention and those siblings can suffer as well. Friends and family can also sometimes move away because, as a carer, you are engrossed in what you are doing and you need that support. As single people, we often mix with single people; as married people with children we often mix with other married people with children; and carers often get together and often talk and are able to counsel one another, because sometimes friends and families are not able to do that. There are financial costs, there are relationship costs with spouses, siblings, family and friends, and then, of course, there is getting respite. When you are 24/7, seven days a week carer—perhaps apart from when they are sleeping—and respite is needed and it is not always available.

Things have changed. Thirty years ago, if you had autism, you would perhaps end up in an institution. Today the family will care for that child in their best interests. I think we are seeing much better results and, once again, I thank every carer that does this. On the positive side, carers experience quality relationship time with the person who they are caring for. I believe, as does the federal member for Petrie, that life is about relationships and that is one positive benefit for some carers that they get build a deep relationship with the person they are caring for and understand that person's life better than anyone else. In relation to respite, I would like to acknowledge the federal government's contribution to Hummingbird House in Queensland, which is currently being constructed. It will be the first respite house in Queensland, where children who are palliative will be able to go with their families and actually get some respite, and that is a good thing. Perhaps when the NDIS has rolled out as well there will be more opportunities for respite around the country. I know that has strong bipartisan support from the coalition and Labor, and that is a great thing.

So, carers, know that we are with you on both sides of the House here. This is a special week. I do want to acknowledge this week Carers Australia and to thank that national body for the work they are doing and the representation they provide to carers, and Carers Queensland as well, for what they do. The Australian government works closely with Carers Australia to ensure that carers get the support and opportunities they need, and I thank you again for raising this motion.

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