The newly elected member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley, has a question for the Turnbull Government: is it planning to cut the carer payment or push people off the payment entirely?
“We know a review is being undertaken into the eligibility for the carers payment,’’ says Ms Stanley.
“Minister for Social Services Christian Porter should be honest with the 3,859 carer payment recipients in Werriwa and say where the review is up to.’’
The Labor MP, who replaced Laurie Ferguson in Werriwa, says Australia’s 2.8 million unpaid carers work tirelessly every day to care for children with additional needs, sick or elderly family members and people with a disability.
“National Carers Week is a great opportunity to celebrate their extraordinary contribution and thank them for all that they do,’’ Ms Stanley said.
“However, instead of acknowledging the fantastic contribution that Werriwa’s carers make, the Liberals again have them in their sights for cuts.
“In the horror 2014 Budget, the Liberal Government launched an unprecedented attack on carers, attempting to slash the indexation arrangement for the carer payment.’’
Ms Stanley said at the time Labor stood side by side with carers in Werriwa to block the Liberal Government’s unfair carer payment and pension cuts in the Senate.
“But the battle isn’t over,’’ she said this week.
“We have again seen the Liberal Government softening the public up for cuts to financial support for carers.
“Last year Mr Porter flagged that payments to carers could be cut.
“I am concerned that the Turnbull Government will use the review to reduce eligibility for these important income supports for carers.
“So far Mr Porter has failed to articulate what additional supports and services his new ‘investment approach’ would provide to young carers,” Ms Stanley said.
“Carers deserve better.’’
