Mr NATT - 2006-08-31
In 2005, the government made an election commitment to introduce a carer’s card. Can the minister please update the House on the implementation of the carer’s card?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. This is an example of a carer’s concession card. This has been a world first. Nowhere else in the world is a government providing concessions to carers. Carers Australia recently had their executive meeting in the Northern Territory and I hosted a lunch for them. They are absolutely thrilled that the Northern Territory is the first place in the world to provide concession for carers. We are setting the pace for taking care of our carers, including the important legislation we passed in the Chamber this morning to recognise our carers.
We went to the election with a commitment to introduce a carer’s card, and we have already delivered on that commitment. We promised the card would provide carers with financial relief of up to $750 per year through concessions on essential services. This came into effect from 1 July this year. We have approximately 1400 carers in the Northern Territory who are eligible for the concessions. Already, 100 have signed up and received the card. I am sure that number will grow as the message gets out.
Each carer who signs up will be $750 a year better off. The card provides concessions for essential services such as urban bus travel, motor vehicle registration, driver’s licences, electricity, rates, garbage charges and spectacles. We extended the carer’s card concessions beyond what government can provide. My agency spoke to private enterprises: cinemas in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs have come on board to provide concessions, as was the AFL. I thank those enterprises for their support. It is the first of its kind in Australia. Carers believe it is the first of its kind in the world.
The response from carers and organisations has been phenomenal. I support the general view, that there has not been enough acknowledgement of the significant contribution that carers make to our society. Carers provide a significant service to our community. Carers have welcomed our recognition of the work, and the contribution they make to improve the quality of life of the people they care for. This is another great initiative from the Martin Labor government. A fair and strong initiative to support the carers in our community.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. This is an example of a carer’s concession card. This has been a world first. Nowhere else in the world is a government providing concessions to carers. Carers Australia recently had their executive meeting in the Northern Territory and I hosted a lunch for them. They are absolutely thrilled that the Northern Territory is the first place in the world to provide concession for carers. We are setting the pace for taking care of our carers, including the important legislation we passed in the Chamber this morning to recognise our carers.
We went to the election with a commitment to introduce a carer’s card, and we have already delivered on that commitment. We promised the card would provide carers with financial relief of up to $750 per year through concessions on essential services. This came into effect from 1 July this year. We have approximately 1400 carers in the Northern Territory who are eligible for the concessions. Already, 100 have signed up and received the card. I am sure that number will grow as the message gets out.
Each carer who signs up will be $750 a year better off. The card provides concessions for essential services such as urban bus travel, motor vehicle registration, driver’s licences, electricity, rates, garbage charges and spectacles. We extended the carer’s card concessions beyond what government can provide. My agency spoke to private enterprises: cinemas in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs have come on board to provide concessions, as was the AFL. I thank those enterprises for their support. It is the first of its kind in Australia. Carers believe it is the first of its kind in the world.
The response from carers and organisations has been phenomenal. I support the general view, that there has not been enough acknowledgement of the significant contribution that carers make to our society. Carers provide a significant service to our community. Carers have welcomed our recognition of the work, and the contribution they make to improve the quality of life of the people they care for. This is another great initiative from the Martin Labor government. A fair and strong initiative to support the carers in our community.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016