Transcript of interview

The work carers do in our community makes an extraordinary difference to the lives of people with disability and their families.

Last year, the Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to look into the long-term care and support of people with disability. The Prime Minister and I released the Productivity Commission's final report in August 2011.

The Productivity Commission has recommended that, like Medicare, Australians should be insured against significant disability.

The Gillard Labor Government agrees that transformational reform of disability services is desperately needed to provide the kind of care and support Australians expect of people with disability, and to give Australians who might acquire a disability the confidence there'll be a helping hand when they need it most.

The Federal Government will be working with the State and Territory Governments, people with disability, their families, carers and community groups to achieve this vision.

SchoolKids Bonus

From 1 January 2013, families receiving Family Tax Benefit A will receive two automatic payments during the school year to help meet their kids schooling costs.

Eligible families will receive payments before Term 1 and Term 3, totalling $410 for each primary student and $820 for each secondary student, per year.

No more saving receipts and waiting for tax time to claim the Education Tax Refund. 

More 5,700 local families in Jagajaga are set to benefit from the SchoolKids Bonus.