The Department of Health and Aged Care has revealed that the wait list for home care packages has more than doubled in just one year under the Albanese Government.
During Senate Estimates last night, we heard that there is more than 68,000 older Australians who are currently waiting for the support they have been assessed as needing.
The Government’s recent Budget released only an additional 24,100 home care packages. This is barely more than a third of the required packages to reduce the 68,100 waitlist.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that this is completely irresponsible, and comes at a time when we know that the next generation of older Australians want to stay in their own homes for longer.
“When I asked the Department to explain this decision, they said the Government is only trying to bring wait times down to 6 months.
“We have some of the most vulnerable Australians waiting an entire year for the care that they need to remain in their own homes for longer.
“It is despicable that the Minister’s only goal with new home care packages is to keep people waiting for six months. They are failing to address the current demand, let alone prepare for the increasing demand that we all know is coming down the pipeline,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.
The Albanese Government’s meagre home care investment compares to the 80,000 additional home care packages provided by the Coalition over our last two years in government.
Once again, this government is all talk and no action. It is time that Labor starts taking real action to ensure that older Australians have access to the care they need and deserve.
ENDS
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