This is a guest post by Michael Mckenna, about his experiences as an unpaid carer:
My name is Michael and I am Unpaid Carer.
My Mum died unexpectedly in March 2009. I was present, and as a result, now suffer from PTSD, anxiety and depression. In October 2009 I was made redundant from my job at the Federal Court of Australia, and immediately obtained a position with the Supreme Court of Tasmania. But I had to decline this offer as my Dad had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his health was deteriorating and I was needed as his full-time Carer. Dad also now has Type 2 Diabetes.
I’ve been caring for my Dad for over 4 years. What a tough roll. Not only emotionally but also financially as I am now a bankrupt. I am 51 years of age and my life feels over. My chances of obtaining work when my gorgeous Dad dies will be minimal, considering my current age and length of time out of the workplace.
Being a single Unpaid Carer I receive a Carer Payment of around $20,000 pa. This payment is far less than the minimum wage. I have not had a day off in over 4 years. As I am called an Unpaid Carer, even if I could afford a small contribution to Superannuation I would not be entitled to the Superannuation Co-contribution as I am not in paid employment. How absurd. There are some 2.7 million Unpaid Carers in Australia and unlike any other group of workers who accumulate wealth throughout their life, Unpaid Carers only accumulate poverty. Currently, when the Unpaid Caring role has ended, the Carer receives up to 14 weeks of Carers Payment and is then placed on the Newstart Allowance until reaching Age Pension age. This 14 week payment equates to approximately $5500. Australia’s 2.7 Million Unpaid Carers provide care with an estimated annual replacement value in 2012 of over $40.9 billion. No Annual Leave, no Sick Leave, no accumulation of Superannuation. Just work, and, sadly, poverty-like conditions during retirement.
Some 6 months ago I e-mailed 31 letters to Members of Parliament and newspaper editors. My main purpose for writing was to plead for a political party to seriously assist Unpaid Carers with retirement savings. I only received four replies. One was from the then Prime Minister Julia Gillard who chose not to address my concerns regarding Unpaid Carers in retirement. I appreciate that Ms Gillard at least replied to my e-mail.
In the case of the current Prime Minister, no reply was received, not even an acknowledgment of receipt from his Office. This is a person who actually has the hide to wear the lycra each year for the Pollie Pedal which assists Carers Australia. If Mr Abbott could not find the time to respond to a very important issue regarding Unpaid Carers, it is most obvious that his participation in the Pollie Pedal is a ruse with the hope that it may be seen that he actually has a caring side. I now know differently. The Prime Minister actually has a very thick hide approaching the Media scrum once a year to ride a bike in support of Carers. Not a word or policy about Carers for the remainder of the year. How I wish Carers Australia had the fortitude to advise him that his pretence of interest is no longer welcome.
Now the Prime Minister wishes to introduce a Paid Parental Leave Scheme which is totally unjust and unfair. It will pay up to the amount of $75,000 over 6 months. Quite honestly, this is an insult to all Unpaid Carers who, through their selfless sacrifice, save the taxpayer billions of dollars. I believe the Prime Minister has stated that having a child should not disadvantage families in terms of income or savings. Obviously, he has no such concerns for Unpaid Carers who look after their parents, children or other family members. To actually have a policy of potentially paying a person $75,000 over 6 months for having a break from the workforce after having a child, which in itself is already a most precious gift, is an absolute kick in the guts to all Unpaid Carers who abandon work, financial security and their own health to care for someone other than themselves. This is certainly not a Fair Go for Unpaid Carers. To put this unjust payment into better perspective, it would take almost 4 years for an Unpaid Carer to accumulate this total payment (not 6 months).
Of greatest concern to me, and I am sure all other Unpaid Carers, is not so much the inadequate Carers Payment (though it is totally inadequate) but that no one is speaking out about the need for continuing welfare after the Unpaid Caring role has ended.
What I am suggesting is that a political party finds the moral fortitude and will-power to introduce a policy that in government, they will pay a contribution to Superannuation for Unpaid Carers. I believe the Employer Super Contribution is 9%; why not for Unpaid Carers? This could have been a stand-out policy during the last Federal Election, and, if I may be so bold to state, would have been a very popular policy amongst voters. It must be remembered that everyone will at some time require care.
I know that both political Parties would state “We cannot afford approximately $2000 a year Superannuation contribution for all Unpaid Carers”. As this I am sure will be the case, I wish to offer the following as a policy which would be simple to introduce, simple administratively and would, importantly, give Unpaid Carers some extra income when their caring role is over.
Very simply, for every 1 year of Unpaid Care, $10 per fortnight to be paid above either the Newstart Payment or Age Pension.
For example: I am 51 years of age and have been an Unpaid Carer for 4 years and 4 months. If my caring role now ended I would be paid $40 extra per fortnight of Newstart Allowance and then $40 extra per fortnight once transferred to Age Pension. As another example, a wonderful person who has received the Carers Payment for 10 years would be entitled to receive an extra $100 per fortnight when their caring role ends. Unpaid Carers should know that they will have some small savings in retirement. Ideally, the policy should be retrospective, so that all current Unpaid Carers are included, taking into account all years worked as an Unpaid Carer.
I have never achieved anything of note during my lifetime but I hope the following suggestion can be examined then introduced to assist all Unpaid Carers accumulate some form of security in their retirement.
Michael Mckenna
(maccawacca@bigpond.com)
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