1997-1998
Australia's Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, Budget Document 1997-98.
Budget measures in the areas of child care, disabilities and aged care will deliver fairness and equity to Australian families.
Mrs Judi Moylan
Minister for Family Services
Responsible reform key to Budget measures
Budget measures in the areas of child care, disabilities and aged care will deliver fairness and equity to Australian families.These measures build on existing Government policies of the past year which have sought to strike a balance between a more efficient use of government resources and a better standard of service delivery to all Australians.
The Government's child care package reaffirms our commitment to the special needs of families -- especially women -- in the workforce. This package continues to provide equity and fairness in the distribution of child care. It will guarantee an accessible and sustainable child care sector into the future.
Labor's reckless approach to child care policy, which resulted in an unplanned and poorly distributed child care system, will be eliminated through:
- a planning system that will better distribute new child care places where the need is greatest;
- a 2 year control mechanism which will ensure child care supply properly reflects growth in workforce participation of parents;
- a more realistic approach to non-work related child care with additional playgroup support;
- provision of more family day care places; and
- improved supply and subsidies for Outside School Hours Care which will provide greater accessibility and affordability for thousands of Australian families.
In the area of disabilities, real gains will be made in meeting the unmet demand for accommodation for people with disabilities. A total of $54 million over four years will be provided to State/Territory governments to help them meet these needs. This measure will result in 500 more people and their families being assisted.
This Budget delivers one of the most substantial financial boosts to carers of people with disabilities with a $16.60 per fortnight increase in the Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit.
This 28% increase in the benefit redresses years of neglect by the former Labor Government.
The Government's commitment to aged Australians is reaffirmed through additional funding initiatives. In particular people with dementia and their carers will benefit from $2 million a year in funding for education and support.
Carers will benefit from more than $1.3 million a year being made available to major organisations to ensure the continuation of education and support for carers of people with dementia.
In addition more than $1 million in 1997-98 and more than $2 million over the followingthree years will be available for needs-assessment, information and advice for carers.
The many and varied policy challenges in this portfolio require the Government to provide flexible, practical and responsive programs to meet the diverse needs of Australian families, and on this front, we have delivered.
Further information:
Sandi Logan (Minister's office) Phone: (06) 277 7240, (0412) 146 149
Note for media: See associated Fact Sheets for fuller details of portfolio Budget measures.
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