Thursday,9 February 2023


Questions without notice and ministers statements

Foster carers


Matthew BACH, Lizzie BLANDTHORN

Foster carers

But what is most interesting and should be of great interest to this house is actually the work that carers do and the work that our government is doing to support them. The critical contribution that carers make in supporting some of our most vulnerable children is one that we all know is invaluable in the care system, and there is a carer allowance that is allocated which contributes towards the care of children. It is also an allowance that is scalable and that can be adjusted where there are complex needs for children with complex issues. Higher levels of carer allowance are also determined on a case-by-case basis, and that is something that this government can and already does do.

But I did not get the opportunity the other day, because I think your supplementary question was perhaps a little too narrow, to say that I think it is important that this house understands that some of the other supports that this government does provide to carers is a relevant part of this conversation.

Matthew Bach: On a point of order, President, the minister has now been going on for a long time, and it is always interesting to note her stated care for our foster carers. However, this question, as my previous questions have been, is in fact a very narrow one. I think it is in our standing orders at section 8.07 that it is necessary for ministers to be relevant to the question. I know the minister is new to this house, but she should be made to come back and actually answer this very narrow question.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Dr Bach. The minister still has nearly 2 minutes of her allotted time.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Thank you, President, and thank you, Dr Bach. I would have thought that, given your interest in carers, government support for carers is key to your question, and that is exactly what I am attempting to inform you of. Our government has provided almost $13 million for the continuation of the care hub trial, which provides wraparound supports to those who are providing care for some of the most vulnerable children in our community. This government provides early intervention supports, which we talked about at length yesterday, I think it was, when I was talking in my ministers statement about family services. I am not sure that those on the other side are perhaps familiar with family services; it is not something for which they do have a portfolio. But family services and the supports that family services provide are crucial for carers in the delivery of the care that they provide to some of our most vulnerable children. We also have the help desk, which I think you will find carers are most supportive of in terms of the support that they can get from the help desk in relation to care and extra supports, particularly when they are in need of therapeutic supports for the children that are in their care. There is also the continuing of the CaringLife app. So there are many ways in which this government continues to support carers. We will continue to support carers, and we thank you for your interest.

Matthew Bach: On a point of order, President, the question that the minister said I put to her is not in fact the question that I put to her. I do listen to her responses. I said, ‘Do foster carers deserve support to cover these bare essentials?’

The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Dr Bach. It is not a point of order. In that instance the minister clearly answered your question.