Carer Card
Tim READ (Brunswick) (09:48): Last week Kate from my electorate called me to say that the budget has left carers like her worse off. The 25,000 Victorians who hold a Carer Card have lost access to their public transport concessions. This is no small loss for carers, many of whom already face financial hardship, particularly with recent increases in prices and rent. The valuable work that these carers do for their families and communities often goes unacknowledged and is unpaid. The government’s decision to stop their half-price public transport discount just adds to the financial distress that many carers already face. Providing low-cost public transport to carers of people with additional needs is a bare minimum form of assistance that the government could do for minimal cost to the budget. I question their judgement in cutting this concession in the recent budget. I therefore ask the Labor government to reconsider this decision in recognition of the sacrifice made by carers.