Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

that the week beginning 19 October 2008 is Carers Week,

(ii)

that there are more than 2.5 million carers in Australia today, and

(iii)

the release on 14 October 2008 of a report into carers by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which stated that:

(a)

almost half of all carers provided care for more than 40 hours per week, the equivalent of a full-time job, and

(b)

more than 15 per cent of carers reported difficulties in paying bills and more than 20 per cent had borrowed money; and

(b)

calls on the Government to ensure that carers are provided with greater access to respite services and financial support to ensure they are able to continue in their vital work.

Question agreed to.