Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Medicare) Share this | Hansard source

In a miserly, penny-pinching decision, the South Australian Marshall Liberal government will end financial assistance to the organisation Grandparents For Grandchildren SA. The not-for-profit group has existed for 15 years, providing financial, emotional and services support to around 12,000 families, including many Indigenous families, with whom community partnerships and support groups have been formed.

The value of grandparents caring for grandchildren is immeasurable, with the advantages to wellbeing of the children and financial savings to the state being immense. Were it not for grandparents, responsibility for so many children would rest with the state government. Many of the grandparents are not well off. They are often elderly and sometimes sole grandparents, and invariably they have their own health problems. They often struggle physically and financially, and they rely on Grandparents For Grandchildren for assistance with services and advice. I've met with grandparents caring for their grandchildren, and I've heard firsthand about the difficulties they face and the sacrifices that they make.

This was a short-sighted, insensitive cut by the Marshall government that in the long term will cost taxpayers much more than it is expected to save. I call on the Marshall government to show some compassion, demonstrate some understanding and reverse its heartless decision to defund Grandparents for Grandchildren.

See this speech in context