In a media release today, Carers Tasmania, the state’s peak body for unpaid family and friend carers, has welcomed the tabling of the Carer Recognition Bill 2022 in the House of Assembly.

Tasmania is the last state or territory to introduce legislation to recognise the contribution of unpaid, informal carers of someone with disability, who is frail or aged, has mental ill health, chronic or life limiting illness or who has alcohol or other drug dependence.

“The introduction of carer recognition and a carer charter was first proposed by the Tasmanian Labor Party in early 2019 and was a commitment of the Tasmanian Liberal Party at the last state election, and so we are pleased it enjoys support across the Parliament.”

“Whilst we applaud having the legislation, Carers Tasmania hopes that parliamentary debate on the Bill will see further changes agreed to include a formal mechanism for the voice of carers to be assured of being heard and shift the language of the charter to be focused on rights, as some other states have,” said Carers Tasmania’s CEO David Brennan.

Read the full media release below –