Mr WETTENHALL (26 Nov 2008) (9.10 pm): In rising to participate in this debate on the Carers (Recognition) Bill 2008 I would like to comment very briefly on the proposal to establish a Carers Advisory Council.

That has come forward in the form of amendment because the private member's bill did not provide for a Carers Advisory Council. Those changes have been initiated because a Carers Advisory
Council would address the need for a mechanism to advance the interests of carers and promote
compliance by public authorities with the carer's charter. The government proposes to amend the bill to strengthen the role of carers in the development of services and policy by establishing a Carers Advisory Council.

That council is to be based on the Western Australian Carers Advisory Council, which was established under the Carers Recognition Act 2004 of Western Australia. The functions of the council will be to work to advance the interests of carers and promote compliance by public authorities with the carer's charter, to make recommendations to the minister on enhancing compliance by public authorities with the carer's charter, to provide general advice to the minister on matters relating to carers and to carry out other functions as directed by the minister.

It is proposed that the council will have 10 members comprising four Public Service employees, three carers and three representatives from three different carer representative organisations. There will also be a chairperson appointed by the minister and a deputy chairperson appointed by the council. Members are to hold office for no more than two years, although they are eligible for reappointment. Members who are not Public Service employees are entitled to be paid remuneration and allowances decided by the minister. The minutes of each meeting and decisions of the council will need to be kept.

During the course of the debate tonight we have heard a number of members explaining and drawing on their own personal experience about how far we have come in our community in recognising the very important role that carers do perform in our society. I think it is fair to say that both governments
and individual members of society have come a long way in recognising that role.

The improvements in government policies and programs that have come about over the past 10 to 15 years as a result of that awareness being raised in our community are very welcome and can only be enhanced by formalising the role of the Carers Advisory Council in legislation, which is why I do support those amendments.

I think that will be a very important and useful improvement to the very worthwhile bill that has come before the House tonight. I commend the bill to the House.