There is no doubt that the circumstances around which the forthcoming budget will be drawn up are significantly less promising that those of earlier years. However, the Government has committed itself to ensure social progress continues to be made side by side with economic progress. In the context of the difficult decisions that will have to be made, my parliamentary party and I will certainly ensure those most vulnerable in society will not be the ones to bear it. We have outlined commitments and priorities with regard to widows, the household budget package and in the context of carers. I am very much aware that carers and carer's allowance and benefit are issues which all Senators deal with in their clinics. The figures show the huge number of new persons now contributing as carers because of the introduction of the new scheme of carer's benefit. Increased numbers are participating in the carer's allowance scheme as a consequence of the disregard. I know that in a perfect society it would be fantastic to be able to stand up and say I could abandon the means test for carer's allowance. I cannot do so at present, but will support carers in society. I agree that there is no argument when one compares the cost of institutional care against that of a carer.