The Opposition provided a clear offer to work with the Government on sensible aged care policies in recognition of the importance of a strong, dignified and world-class aged care system to support our ageing population into the future.
In line with that commitment, we have been involved in good-faith negotiations with the Government on their plans for the ongoing financing of Australia’s aged care sector, following the final report of the Aged Care Sustainability Taskforce.
To be clear, this is Labor’s package of reforms. This has not been a co-designed process but, within the Government’s reform framework, the Coalition fought for dignity and clarity for older Australians and future generations.
The Opposition has achieved significant changes through this process, as we negotiated with the Government on behalf of the aged care sector, older Australians and future generations.
These include:
- The inclusion of grandfathering arrangements, to ensure that every Australian who has already commenced their journey of ageing within the Commonwealth system will not be impacted by these changes.
- The inclusion of a lower taper rate to ensure equitable contributions for Australians who have worked hard all their lives to save for their retirement.
- An assurance that the Federal Government will remain the majority funder of aged care, not the consumer.
- The maintenance of a lifetime cap on care contributions across both residential and home care, to provide certainty to families who may have loved ones in care for many years.
- The inclusion of a time limited cap for residential aged care, to ensure that older Australians and their families will only be required to contribute to care costs for 4 years.
- $300 million in additional capital funding through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Programme for regional, rural and remote aged care providers to upgrade their facilities.
- Additional care funding particularly for regional, rural and remote aged care homes.
- The removal of criminal penalties from the Act, following serious concerns that their inclusion would force the exit of highly capable staff from the sector in fear of being criminally punished to a level not seen in any other industry.
- The removal of provisions that would have forced unionism into every aged care home.
With these changes now confirmed, the Opposition will agree not to amend the financial sustainability framework contained in the Government’s Aged Care Bill so they will finally introduce the Bill into the Parliament and lift the veil of secrecy.
Fundamentally, these reforms just need to be out there to bring all Australians into the conversation.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the Coalition has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Government’s reforms do not unreasonably disadvantage Australians who have saved for their retirement.
“Australians who have worked hard their whole life must be dealt a fair deal.
“That is why we pushed the Government to include grandfathering arrangements, lifetime caps, and a lower taper rate.
“The Coalition has advocated on behalf of all older Australians currently in the aged care system to guarantee that they will not pay one cent more for their aged care.
“We have fought for additional funding for aged care providers in the bush, who are struggling to remain open under the Albanese Government, and we have squashed Labor’s outrageous attempt to force unionism into every aged care home.
“We remain disappointed by the lack of transparency that has been shown by the Government through this process, with conversations forced to occur behind closed doors.
‘We look forward to now having an open conversation with older Australians and the aged care sector about the Government’s proposed reforms,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.
The Opposition welcomes the Government’s decision to finally introduce their Aged Care Bill into the Parliament, so that we can have an open and transparent Senate Inquiry into this significant package of reforms.
ENDS
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