Media Release: Labor’s price cap delay just another example of botched aged care roll out

Anthony Albanese’s latest aged care backflip is yet another sign Labor is making policy on the run. After months of uncertainty, the Government has delayed Support at Home price caps at the last minute because providers were given no detail and no time to prepare. Older Australians deserve certainty, not chaos. Labor’s excessive red tape is driving up costs and taking resources away from frontline care.

The Albanese Government’s last-minute decision to delay the implementation of Support at Home price caps by 12 months is further confirmation that Labor’s aged care rollout has been badly mishandled.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston said the Government has been well aware of the challenge of implementing price caps but left the decision to delay implementation to the very last minute, creating more uncertainty for older Australians.

“We welcome the decision to delay these price caps because providers had been given no detail on the design of the price caps and would have had no way of implementing them on the original timeline But the Government should never have allowed the sector to get this close to implementation without certainty,” Senator Ruston said.

“Labor continues to make up aged care policy on the run because it failed to properly plan and consult on the Support at Home rollout.”

Senator Ruston said evidence presented to parliamentary inquiries had consistently shown many of the rising costs across the home care sector were being driven by Labor’s excessive compliance requirements and growing administrative red tape.

“What we have heard repeatedly through the inquiry process is that providers are being overwhelmed by compliance and bureaucracy which is driving up costs and taking resources away from frontline care,” Senator Ruston said.

“For the Minister to try to hide behind the Iran war as an excuse is cynical and dishonest.”

The Coalition also welcomes the establishment of a working group bringing together COTA, OPAN, Ageing Australia and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to help determine an appropriate and sustainable approach to pricing.

“It is important the sector, consumer groups and regulators are properly consulted to ensure any pricing arrangements are workable, sustainable and do not reduce access to care for older Australians,” Senator Ruston said.

ENDS