Government restores fairness for family carers

Pay rates for family carers will also increase from the current minimum wage to a fairer pay equity rate of between $20.50 and $25.50, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter said today announcing changes to the Government’s Family Funded Care policy.

“We have heard loud and clear from families with disabled members about the need to change Funded Family Care. Today progresses a more compassionate government that addresses the needs of stretched parents and partners,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

“I want to acknowledge families and whānau who provide this important and sometimes challenging care for their loved ones.

“Today we are addressing issues that have caused national and international concern since Funded Family Care was introduced in 2013,” Minister Julie Anne Genter said.

The Government has also decided to repeal Part 4A of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

“This will restore people’s human rights to be involved in decision making, and have the right to complain about policies that affect them and their families,” Julie Anne Genter said.

“We also heard from families about the need to remove the requirement for an employment relationship between a disabled person and their family member. Health Ministers will consider alternative options which do not place unreasonable expectations on disabled people, their family or whānau."

The changes will come into effect in 2020 once legislation has gone through a Select Committee process which will include public consultation.

Budget 2019 allocated $32 million in contingency for these changes.

Latest Health Announcements

Story

Free prescriptions important step forward

The Green Party is today welcoming free prescriptions.

Greens welcome life-saving treatments for rare disorders

The Green Party welcomes the news that Pharmac will fully fund Spinraza for people under the age of 18.

Monkeypox elimination plan is essential

The Green Party is calling on the Government to listen to public health experts and commit to an elimination strategy for monkeypox.

Migrant healthcare workers need fair pay as well as residency

Migrant nurses, aged-care and support workers need fair pay as well as equitable pathways to residency, not half-baked measures from National.

Nurses could face pay cut under National

A National Government would leave nurses behind, the Green Party says.

Budget 2022: Greens MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere says wins for health not enough for Māori or Rainbow

Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Healt...