Today’s passage of the Aged Care Bill is a major milestone in creating a world-class aged care system for all Australians - with much work still to be done - according to Member for Mallee and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health, Dr Anne Webster MP.

“The path to the passage of today’s Bill was made more difficult by the Albanese Labor Government’s poor consultation with older Australians and the broader aged care sector.  Labor kept conversations behind closed doors for far too long,” Dr Webster said.

“I convened the Regional Aged Care Summit in Mildura in July 2023 and I sent the Summit Communique to the Government. The Communique outlined considerable areas for improvement, particularly to ensure a specific focus on the regional aged care’s unique and dire workforce challenges.”

“The Coalition fought for dignity and clarity for older Australians and future generations. We ensured that Australians who worked hard all their lives saving for retirement got a fairer deal, securing grandfathering arrangements, lifetime contribution caps, a much lower taper rate, and an assurance that the Federal Government will remain the majority funder of aged care.”

“The Coalition also secured the removal of the Government’s arbitrary caps on cleaning and gardening services in the home care system, greater scrutiny of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s use of their powers and more transparency on the work of the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner.

“The Government also committed to releasing an additional 83,000 home care packages, as a result of the Coalition standing up for the 76,000 older Australians waiting for a home care package under this government.”

Dr Webster said there is still much work to be done to give all Australians the aged care system they deserve.

“We need an adequate transition period and arrangements so that this significant reform package can be implemented without perverse impacts for older Australians and the sector.  We also need greater flexibility in the Government’s Registered Nurse workforce requirements, to reflect the ongoing workforce crisis and protect aged care homes in rural and regional areas.

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