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Parliament resumed after the Easter school holiday break this week and there was a very busy agenda of new legislation introduced by the various ministers. Oberon is well served by its SES emergency unit and Minister Steve Whan has introduced legislation to establish the SES Volunteer Joint Consultative Council. It will report to the Commissioner of the State Emergency Service on matters affecting volunteer members. It will give volunteers a forum for advancing their case for improvements to resources, etc.

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Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Carmel Tebbutt introduced a very important piece of legislation – The Carers Recognition Bill. The New South Wales Opposition have given notice of a similar bill but the Government is not supporting it because we believe it is fraught with problems.

The Opposition proposal did not cover statutory corporations, which meant that major service providers, such as an area health service, were not covered by the bill. In addition, the Opposition bill did not distinguish between those agencies that provide services aimed at carers and persons being cared for, and other agencies who have little to do with carers. The New South Wales Government is also of the opinion that the New South Wales legislation on carers should be more closely aligned with the Commonwealth Carers’ Recognition Bill and similar legislation in other states and territories.

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The New South Wales legislation will, among other things, give carers’ health and well-being due consideration, take into account the views and needs of carers, together with the views, needs and best interests of the person they are caring for and the assessment, planning and delivery of services.

It will ensure carers are referred to and made aware of appropriate services to assist them in their caring role. The legislation will also recognise the particular difficulties facing children and young people who are carers and also carers in remote and rural areas.