2025-10-21
The Victorian Greens have called reports Labor has heavily cut support allowances for foster carers ‘deeply concerning’, and a clear indication the government has its priorities wrong.
Overnight, The Age reported some carers had had their allowances cut by as much as three-quarters without explanation, despite living with children at the highest need level.
With Victoria already having the lowest base rate of home care allowances in the country, the Greens say the cuts will place immense strain on an already under-resourced sector.
And they add that vulnerable children will bear the brunt of it, with the decision disproportionately impacting children with disabilities and First Nations children.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens early childhood spokesperson, Anasina Gray-Barberio MLC:
“Our foster carers are unsung heroes. They volunteer to support and look after vulnerable kids who, for a range of reasons, aren’t safe at home.
“Yet they’re stretched thin – they’re chronically under-resourced, and often have to dig into their own pockets to make sure the kids they’re caring for have the best chance at a good life.
“Any move to further reduce support allowances for carers is a bad one, and shows how backwards Labor’s priorities are.
“Cuts to health, cuts to education, and now cuts to foster care – that’s not what looking after our kids looks like.
“Labor needs to properly fund foster carers so that they can continue to support the thousands of Victorian kids in need of out-of-home care.”