Media Release: Labor Forced to Follow Through on Aged Care Pay Promise

Today, the Albanese Labor Government has finally announced the expected funding for the implementation of the Fair Work Commission’s aged care pay determination, after Labor attempted to break their promise and delay the pay rise in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

The Fair Work Commission proposed for the staged pay rise to begin in January 2025.

However, the Albanese Government pushed to delay the start date until after the election, with the full rise not coming into effect until October 2027, to save their Budget bottom-line.

This was denied by the Fair Work Commission.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the Albanese Government has been dragged kicking and screaming into providing the funding needed to implement the Commission’s independent decision now. 

“This announcement today by the Minister is nothing more than Labor disingenuously selling an independent decision of the Fair Work Commission – which they argued against - as an election announcement,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.

“Labor made a clear commitment to aged care nurses to fund the rise in line with the Commission’s determination, a promise which they were clearly prepared to break by pushing it out until late 2027.

“Older Australians and hard-working aged care nurses deserve better than that.

“Our nurses are at the heart of aged care services, delivering dedicated, compassionate and essential care to older Australians.

“This is another desperate example of Labor resorting to political spin in an attempt to mislead the Australian people and distract from their failures.”

Under the Albanese Government, more than 81,000 older Australians are currently waiting for the home care support they’ve been assessed as needing.

This waitlist has almost tripled in the last 18 months alone, leaving thousands of vulnerable Australians without the critical support they need to stay independent in their own homes.

According to data from the Department of Health and Aged Care, older Australians are waiting an average of 11 months to access critical home care support, compared to less than 6 months under the Coalition.   

Only a Dutton Coalition Government will ensure older Australians get the care they need, when they need it, to age with dignity, choice, and control.   

ENDS