Time for Govt and family carers to get together

Parents who care for their disabled family members can finally face the future with certainty after the Government decided not to appeal a landmark decision to pay them for the care they provide, Green MP Catherine Delahunty said today.

The Government has announced its decision to end years of litigation and not appeal the latest Court of Appeal ruling upholding an earlier decision that granted parents the right to payment for caring for their offspring.

"This is a long overdue victory for parents of disabled that ends an unfair situation where a non-family member could get paid, but a parent couldn't," said Ms Delahunty.

"The Government needs to now start working with those caring for their own disabled family members.

"A good first step would be sitting down and talking to Cliff Robinson, the man who brought this case originally.

"Now is the time to work out a fair system to ensure carers like Cliff Robinson and all the other families get the support they are entitled to."