Media Release – Carers already in poverty to be hit hardest by carbon tax – 31 July 2011

CARERS ALREADY IN POVERTY TO BE HIT HARDEST BY CARBON TAX

A new report released today has revealed that carers are among the most vulnerable Australians on all key indicators.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs report, The costs of caring and the living standards of carers has found that carers have higher poverty rates than non-carers on all measures.[1]

“There are 2.6 million carers in Australia and Labor’s carbon tax plan only claims to provide relief for the 190,000 carers receiving the Carer Payment.  Labor provides no direct compensation for the remaining 2.4 million carers,” Senator Fifield said.

“This new report has found that many of these carers are already suffering from higher rates of poverty than most other Australians, and that long term carers are more likely to be in persistent poverty.”

“Labor’s carbon tax will only exacerbate and prolong their poverty.  It is also likely that the carbon tax will send more carers into poverty through increased cost of living pressures.”

The report found that caring “…did increase the risk of financial stress, even when controlling for income and wealth.  This finding may indicate that carers have higher costs than their non-carer counterparts.”

People with disability, the aged and their carers are already some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“Why then is Julia Gillard determined to increase cost of living pressures with its carbon tax?  It will only hurt the most vulnerable in our society, including carers,” Senator Fifield said.

The Coalition will oppose the carbon tax while in opposition and rescind it when in government – for the benefit of all Australians, especially carers.