Page 3429 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 14 November 2006

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Question put:

That Mr Smyth’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Carers Recognition Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Debate resumed from 17 August 2006, on motion by Mr Corbell:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (12.11): The opposition will be supporting this bill that extends the meaning of “carer” to greater reflect the reality and implements recommendations that will flow from the report of November 2004 on the review of carers legislation in the ACT. That report was subjected to fairly extensive consultation, a number of submissions were received, and the government agreed to prepare legislation and give effect to amendments consistent with the response to the report. In its response to the report, the government agreed to consider whether amendments could be made to the definition of carer in the Discrimination Act and the Guardianship and Management of Property Act to allow for and recognise the various caring responsibilities by a number of people for a person in need of care.

The bill inserts new definitions which remove references to primary carers and clarify the fact that it is possible to have multiple carers providing assistance to a single person. The definition also recognises that a significant level of commitment is required to qualify as a carer. “Carer” now means:

a person is a carer of someone (the dependant) if—

(a) the dependant is dependent on the person for ongoing care and assistance; and

(b) the person cares for the dependant otherwise than because of—

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