Kerry Rea (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion as well. In particular, I would like to make some comments on a great concern that all of us in this parliament share: the need to pay due recognition to the carers of people with disabilities and, indeed, to ensure that this parliament, the government and the broader community acknowledge the immeasurable contribution made by people who care for people with disabilities in our community. I am also very proud to be part of a government which I believe has begun to put a priority on the issue of disability and the services, support and resources that are required for people with disabilities to maintain independence and quality of life. This government is committed to ensuring that those resources are provided.

It is important to acknowledge that, for the first time, we are seeing really significant resources and significant policy being developed to improve the quality of life of people with disability and, most importantly, to improve the quality of life of the carers who support them. Under the National Disability Agreement, the Commonwealth has committed $5 billion in funding to the states and territories to support people with disabilities and their carers. What is significant is the $244 million over five years that is being committed to provide alternative accommodation and support for younger people with disabilities, those aged under 50, rather than having aged-care facilities or retirement accommodation as their only option. As a result of that spending, the number of people aged under 50 who are living in those types of accommodation has been reduced by 191 people so far. That is the result of a commitment by this government, working with the states and territories, to reduce dependency on aged-care facilities.

Can I also say that all of us in our electorates are always talking to parents of children with disabilities, certainly to community organisations and to people with disabilities themselves. I would like to acknowledge Mr John Barry, who is a resident of Bonner, and his son Anthony, who has Down syndrome. Mr Barry is a very elderly gentleman. Indeed, he is in his late 80s. I think he may even be 90. He has cared all of his life for his son and is most committed to his welfare and to ensuring that he has every opportunity that is available to him. His son is 13 years off retirement. Mr Barry is concerned about what is going to happen to his son when he, I guess we should say, is not here any longer to support his son, when his son does not have an income as a result of the work that he does with the Endeavour Foundation. He has got together a group of parents in the area who, at my request, are putting together some ideas and suggestions that they, with a lifetime of experience of caring for children with disabilities, can come up with about support.

I am very pleased that we have a parliamentary secretary, the Hon. Bill Shorten, who has put an enormous amount of effort and a great amount of compassion together to produce some of the most exciting initiatives that we have seen in the area of disabilities for many years. I would particularly like to acknowledge the work going into the report that is currently being done by the Productivity Commission, a feasibility study to look at the concept of a disability insurance scheme. This is a clear way in which we can look at a long-term, sustainable scheme that will support people with disabilities in this community in a way that not only is long term, as I said, but gives some level of certainty and surety, therefore giving people a lot more confidence about having independence and a life that sees them achieve their full potential.

Can I also acknowledge very quickly the announcement by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, about a policy or legislation concerning recognition of carers. The first step that the carers of this country have asked for is to be recognised and acknowledged and to work with the government to deal with this long-term issue in a sustainable and compassionate way. (Time expired)

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