Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says she is
hopeful the Federal Government will make changes that
allow more families set up special disability trusts.
The trusts are available to people who want to make
sure their son or daughter is well provided for when they
are no longer able to provide care.
Senator Siewert says the trusts are a good idea, but
have not been widely used because of restrictive
eligibility and tax rules.
"If other politicians are the same as me they will
have had a lot of contact from families of people with
disabilities," she said.
"They were really keen for this mechanism to be set up
and now it's failing them, so they are saying can you
please fix it."
She says the Senate committee inquiring into the
system will hand its recommendations to the Federal
Government in September.
"I'm very hopeful that the Government will see the
wisdom in changing the legislation so that this mechanism
really can deliver for families with people with a
disability, because they are really keen to use this
mechanism but it's flawed and it needs fixing."
Carers Australia says the Federal Government must
consider financially supporting those families who do not
have the funds to put into trusts.
Spokeswoman Joan Hughes says the Senate inquiry will
not help families who do not have the money to put into
trusts.
"We've called on the Government to look at a disabilty
or care scheme," she said.
"When we have a big surplus I would have thought the
Government could really look at making sure these
families are not disadvantaged financially because they
have disabilities or because they're caring for people
with disabilities."
ABC
News, July 30 2008
