Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak with regard to carers, in particular young carers, as raised by Senator Barnett earlier today. I do not dispute that Senator Barnett may well have been working with people recently, but the truth of the matter is that the opposition had 12 years to do something for these people and they failed to do anything. Even when they started talking about pension increases they were not going to do anything for young carers, so I am exceptionally pleased that the opposition have seen the light. As someone who has worked as a carer herself albeit in the child-care industry, for over a decade, I understand that carers in general, whether they be young carers, aged carers or child-care workers, are all undervalued by society and it is very important that we do something for them.

The Rudd Labor government is doing something for them in their Economic Security Strategy, which was announced earlier this week. As I said before, seeing the light is one thing but standing there and making derisive comments about this side and how long it might have taken us to do something when they had 12 years to do it is frankly beyond the pale. The Rudd government’s economic strategy will help encourage the economy as well and make sure it emerges in strong shape so that we can provide quality jobs and security for working families into the future.

We are delivering a down payment to pensioners, carers and people with a disability to provide them with immediate financial help in the nine-month lead-up to a comprehensive reform of the pension system. The Rudd Labor government are taking people seriously and are taking those minority groups very seriously. We are basically trying to unscramble eggs that were scrambled for the last 12 years. You cannot do that overnight. Once they are scrambled, you have to work with what is there. We will continue with this strategy and will continue to keep the Australian economy strong. In recognition of the difficult economic circumstances, we will also provide Commonwealth seniors card holders with a lump sum payment of $1,400 to singles and $2,100 to couples. So we are providing security for these people and for working families into the future, and we are providing relief right now when families need it.

We also believe in long-term planning. We are not just going issue by issue; we have a long-term strategy, a long-term plan, and it is very important for the Rudd Labor government to have this long-term plan. We are planning for the future, which is a most critical thing to do. As I said, we do not just decide overnight, see the light overnight, as those on the other side have. I did not even think they knew who the pensioners or the carers were. They have shown no support, no compassion and no humanity for 12 years to this group of people, and then they stand up and say, ‘What are you doing, when are you doing it and why haven’t you done it already?’ Well, with 12 years under your belt, I ask this question: what did you do, when did you do it, and why didn’t you do anything and take this group of people seriously?

I think next week, though I might stand corrected on that, is international carers week, and it is very important that we acknowledge the important role that carers play in the whole of the community and the whole of society. It is very unfortunate that there are young children who are put in this dilemma. I think it does rob them of a very valuable part of their life. They quite often lose their childhood. I have an ongoing interest in children and child care and issues surrounding community services, and for me it is quite sad to see. In response to that, I say that the Rudd Labor government have acknowledged that there has been this gap and we are doing something about it. We are delivering on 8 December. It is important that people realise that, although the other side stand up and proclaim that they are the new saviours of some of these less fortunate people, they had 12 years to deliver the goods— (Time expired)