Cut to Carers Allowance - Australia

Carers' cash cuts utterly callous: Abbott

'Callous': Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott (AAP: Mark Graham)
The Federal Opposition has accused the Federal Government of making carers bear the brunt of its mission to cut spending.

Carers can receive a utilities allowance from the Federal Government of $500 a year but the former bonus scheme of $1,600 looks likely to be abandoned as Kevin Rudd's 'razor gang' goes to work to curb public spending.

Opposition community services spokesman Tony Abbott says carers will be out of pocket and should feel betrayed.

"It is utterly callous to be making the most vulnerable people in our community bear the brunt of the fight against inflation," he said.

Joan Hughes from Carers Australia says more than 400,000 carers would be affected.

"Carers are already doing it really tough," she said.

"This is a complete shock to Carers Australia."

A Federal Government spokeswoman says the carer bonus payments were one-off grants which were never guaranteed under the former government.

SOURCE: abcnetNews
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It is a great shock to all of us. We know that many carers are doing it tough looking after a disabled or elderly person at home. It is a 24/7 "job" that most of us cannot begin to imagine. Instead of ensuring that these carers are given government assistance, funding is reduced. Surely, this a very short-sighted measure to take in "cutting costs" to reduce inflation.
The government should re-examine this issue. In view of the constant reminder that the "tsunami of seniors" will continue well beyond the next decade, more services will be needed NOT slashed.