Mr HICKS(3.22 p.m.) —I commend the honourable member for Murray (Mrs Stone) on bringing this important matter to the attention of the House, as most members speaking on this debate have before me. In my experience in the electorate—particul arly at election time, because that is the only time you get a chance to travel around and knock on the doors of your electorate—there are two things that do not impress me; in fact they make me very sad. Firstly, you realise that there is terrible loneliness in the community when you knock on some doors and speak to people. These people are so pleased to see you because you are probably the only person they have seen for weeks and they just want someone to talk to; they want that human contact.

The second thing I noticed is how fortunate we in Australia are to have a range of support services available to us. Most Australians can normally get by but, when sickness strikes the home or someone has an incapacity or a disability, those affected find they are struggling against the stream. It is a very difficult situation to be in, and we all know people in that situation.

In my travels throughout the Riverina I often come into contact with people who I believe deserve our greatest admiration, respect and, above all, help. These people are the carers of the sick, the aged and the disabled. Throughout the Riverina and Australia what has been described as an `invisible army' is at work. Although they include some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in our society, they contribute to our communities about $8 billion which would otherwise have to be funded by governments—and we all know governments cannot do that.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates there are 1.5 million carers in Australia—or one in every five households. That is a staggering figure. Of these carers, many are providing care for 35 hours a week or more. Caring, as we all know, can be hard work, considering that some carers are no longer young and mobile. They have to feed, bathe, dress, toilet, drive, medicate, supervise, comfort and nurse some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Recently we had National Carers Week. During that week, the role of carers was brought to our attention. I am sure that most members in this House would be aware of that role but some may not be. I personally know, as would most members know, of parents who have chronically ill children. They take it in turns to sleep because their child has to be turned regularly throughout the night. Many carers have to get the people they are caring for out of bed and to the toilet or into the shower and so on. It takes a great deal of work and effort. As carers become older, it becomes even more difficult for them. I am sure most of my colleagues, as I said before, would know of similar unfortunate situations.

To a carer, the things that most of us take for granted as everyday pleasures can be a luxury. Many carers would dearly love to have just one night of unbroken sleep or an occasional day off, even though they love the person they are caring for in an indescribable manner—if they did not they would not be caring for them in the way they do. They would be very grateful for just a few hours off to see a movie or even spend time in the garden to smell the roses. These people experience social isolation, poor emotional wellbeing, lower life satisfaction and feelings of depression and anxiety—all of which can lead to stress-related illnesses.

We should all welcome any initiative which recognises the wonderful contribution made to society by all categories of carers but more particularly by the growing number of aged carers, who deserve special consideration in enabling them to access respite from their demanding tasks and to be supported by permanent residential or in-house care services for their dependants. Anything that can be done in this way to assist these people by either federal or state governments will, I am sure, not only support carers but support the whole community and those people who are being cared for. We can imagine the thoughts running through the minds of people being cared for and their love for those caring for them. I once again commend the member for Murray for bringing this matter to the attention of the House.