Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, thank the member for Riverina for moving the motion and the member for Forde for seconding it. It is a very important matter. It affects many people in this country and I would doubt if it did not affect every member in this place. There are constituents in every electorate who have to confront the difficulties in finding proper accommodation for their disabled children. Only last month I think the member for Melbourne moved a similar motion just subsequent to the COAG meeting. It was debated in this place. He, along with five other members of the House, debated the needs of approximately 1,000 Australians under the age of 50—who are currently living in nursing homes because they have a severe disability—and looked at finding ways to ensure that they are able to find proper accommodation.

From my point of view, there is an absolute need to focus upon the needs of ageing parents or carers who are worried witless about what will happen to their children in the event of their death. They are worried that there are not suitable service provisions of government or other organisations in order to attend to the needs of their children. Indeed, the disabled people themselves who have for many years been reliant upon their parents, family members and friends are only wanting to be treated decently in what is a relatively wealthy society.

As a result of the COAG agreement on 10 February this year, $244 million was in fact put aside to jointly establish a program managed by the states and territories, but also funded by the Commonwealth, in order to attend to this blight on our social services. That is a wonderful instalment, but it falls far short of the requirements needed to, firstly, find proper accommodation for those disabled people under the age of 50. In fact, it is the case that one in six of those people currently in what I would term inappropriate care may find better arrangements as a result of such funding. That is, as I say, an improvement but it falls a long way short.

Only last month I was involved in a debate of a similar nature. It certainly focused on some of the matters that have been raised by the member for Riverina. I think it is absolutely fitting that we in this place raise these matters time and time again until governments, at both federal and state levels, realise that it is absolutely critical and that families who have had to endure such challenges and difficulties as a result of children, in many instances, being severely disabled are looking to government. In many ways they are the most vulnerable in our society. Indeed, anyone who knows a parent or a primary carer who has looked after a disabled child knows how life changing that is. Whilst it can be very fulfilling, it is a very difficult task and it would only be fitting that governments of this nation attend to the needs of people with severe disabilities and put the minds of the carers—indeed, their parents—at rest so that they know that, whatever happens, those children who obviously have had enough difficulties to confront will be adequately looked after and properly accommodated for their entire lives. I am very happy to support this motion moved by the member for Riverina. I think it is a very good response and, hopefully, the government will attend to it.

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