Who cares for carers? Not this Budget
Unpaid family and friend carers saved the Australian economy $77.9 billion in 2020. That was before COVID and the impacts on the community it brought with it. Yet these 2.65 million Australians were completely forgotten in last night's Budget, with no dedicated new funding provided for their financial support, respite, or wellbeing.
Cost of living pressures are most acute for our nation's carers, and they simply cannot continue to plug the gap in supports for someone who has a disability, chronic or life-limiting illness, is frail aged, has a mental illness, alcohol or other drug related condition without better and ongoing supports for their own health, wellbeing and financial security.
Carers Australia Acting CEO Ms Melanie Cantwell said, "While the Budget may deliver short-term relief for some carers receiving social security payments, it does not outline long-term reform for carers or prepare for the 23% growth in demand for primary carers by 2030."
"We call on all parties to demonstrate their commitment to Australia's 2.65 million unpaid family and friend carers in their federal election commitments."
"Throughout the COVID pandemic carers have sheltered, supported and advocated for our most vulnerable Australians at home, often while paid care and support services were not available, or their delivery was severely impacted. This added to the number of unpaid care hours carers were already doing and further impacted on their own health and wellbeing. Carers are at breaking point, and have barely been recognised or acknowledged in this Budget."
"If not now, when will carers enter the centre of policy considerations? While the Carer Recognition Act 2010 (Commonwealth) formally acknowledges the valuable social and economic contribution of carers in Australia, the last National Carers Strategy lapsed in 2014. Australia's 2.65 million carers are an essential part of our community and deserve a whole-of-government National Carer Strategy to deliver strategic direction and clear responsibilities across health and non-health portfolios."
"When the pandemic is over and this election is over many carers' lives will not change – they will continue to be socially isolated, financially disadvantaged and unrecognised. Carers Australia asks again: who will care for carers?" Ms Cantwell said.
The Carers Australia 2022 Federal Election Platform
