The Government has appealed a decision by the Human Rights Review Tribunal which this month said parents who care for severely disabled adult children should be eligible to receive payment for their efforts.The long running battle for payment was fought b
The Government has appealed a decision by the Human Rights Review Tribunal which this month said parents who care for severely disabled adult children should be eligible to receive payment for their efforts.
The long running battle for payment was fought by a group of nine such parents who felt it was unfair the Ministry of Health should pay carers only if they were not related to the patient.
Health Minister Tony Ryall responded to the decision, released on January 8, saying it would "almost certainly" be appealed as "this decision has implications far beyond the disability sector".
Solicitor-General David Collins QC today confirmed an appeal had been lodged, saying it was "in the public interest given the legal issues involved and the significant implications of the decision, including its likely fiscal impact and its flow on effect to other policy settings".
The tribunal found the ministry had discriminated against the parents because "they are not allowed to be paid for the services they provide to their child (or children) while anyone else providing the very same care to their child (or children) is able to be paid".
It did not accept the support given by parents to their "heavily dependent" children could be considered "natural" support.
