Tuesday, 5 May 2026

 Tim BULL (Gippsland East) (12:27): My question is to the minister for carers. With the number of Victorian carers now exceeding 1 million, many of these young carers with financial challenges, what specific financial relief measures will you implement to ensure these young carer card holders receive assistance to manage the ballooning costs of their essential and critical carer roles?

 Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit – Minister for Youth, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (12:27): I thank the member for the question. I have got to say from the outset that carers give a huge input to Victoria, and I see that every day with my mum, who has cared for my uncle for many decades. They give a huge amount to our community. They bring experience and resilience, but the reality is that balancing a caring role with work, study and school simply is not easy, and we see that every day. Just last week in Kororoit I held a youth forum, and at that youth forum one of our young carers came forward and said, ‘I’m a young carer. What benefits are there for me?’ And I was really pleased to be able to unveil all that the Labor government has to offer, from our free public transport –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this is not a members statement. There was a question there, and I would ask the member –

Anthony Carbines: Speaker, on the point of order, the minister was being directly relevant to the question, that went to the work on the policies for carers in our community.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question.

Luba GRIGOROVITCH: As I was saying, we invest $31 million each year in carer support and respite programs. We do that on this side of the chamber. Over that side, all they want to do is cut, cut, cut, and we see that every day.

James Newbury: On a point of order, sledging is irrelevant, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, member for Brighton. The minister has concluded her answer.

 Tim BULL (Gippsland East) (12:30): Minister, can you outline what targeted mental health and educational support programs are being developed specifically for young carers so they do not have to choose between their education and their caring responsibilities?

 Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit – Minister for Youth, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (12:30): I will start off by saying this is a question that should be directed to the Minister for Mental Health, but in saying that, I will say as the minister for youth and carers that we invest a huge amount across Victoria, as we know. In 2025–26, 31 community groups received up to $100,000, including 14 projects in regional areas. We have invested an additional $5.1 million to expand the programs, on top of funding each and every year. And although the budget is not yet unveiled, this afternoon I look forward to hearing it and seeing what is in it.