Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

Typically, during consideration in detail, the senior minister would make some opening remarks. However, as Minister Hunt does all the talking all of the time, I have taken it upon myself to say a few words. I want to begin on a more serious note, and start on the issues surrounding the Makk and McLeay Oakden facility in South Australia. I was deeply shocked to hear about the mistreatment of care recipients at this service. I met with the families of some of these care recipients the other day and, quite frankly, I was horrified to hear about some of the experiences of these families and their loved ones. As a result of the incidents at this facility, I commissioned an independent review into the Commonwealth's aged care quality regulatory process on 1 May 2017. The review, chaired by Kate Carnell AO and Professor Ron Paterson, will examine the accreditation, monitoring, review, investigation, complaints and compliance processes to ensure that the regulatory system in residential aged care works effectively. The health, safety and wellbeing of older Australians is of paramount importance to this government. I imagine that to those of us on all sides of politics any mistreatment is not acceptable. This review will determine why the extended failures of Oakden were not identified, and the ways that we can move forward from here to achieve better outcomes for older Australians.

This budget is a health budget. Specifically, there are significant measures that deliver beneficial outcomes for older Australians. Over the next five years, this government will spend $99.3 billion to support aged-care services. Spending on aged care has steadily risen since the coalition came into government. One of the most significant investments in this budget is the $5.5 billion extension to the Commonwealth Home Support Program for two years until 30 June 2020. The huge investment in our older Australians is about supporting them to remain independent and in their homes for longer, while ensuring that they have the proper care that they require. This investment includes extending funding arrangements from 1 July 2018, with new funding conditions to provide a greater focus on activities that support independence and wellness and to provide more choices for consumers. This is in addition to the Increasing Choice in Home Care reforms that I announced in February this year.

This budget also provides an investment of $3.1 million for ICT to support the My Aged Care platform. My Aged Care supports over 1.3 million older Australians in accessing over $17 billion in aged-care services. This investment will further enhance the capacity and capability of My Aged Care to support our older Australians. Specifically, the investment will provide improvements in system performance and efficiency, ensure timely access to aged care for older Australians, and enable information technology infrastructure to keep pace with the increase in the number of people using My Aged Care. This morning a $4 million My Aged Care campaign, 'Helping families access My Aged Care', was launched.

Another important initiative in this budget is the development of an aged-care workforce strategy. This government is committed to providing the best possible care for Australians in aged care, and ensuring we have a strong and productive workforce is crucial to this commitment. Three million dollars will be directed towards growing a local care workforce in partnership with the Social Services portfolio, and $2 million will be redirected to the development of an industry-led workforce strategy. The task force will be led by the sector and will consult widely within and outside the sector. This has been welcomed by key stakeholders such as COTA Australia and Leading Age Services Australia.

Given I am taking all the time from my colleagues this morning, I will touch only briefly on the wider health portfolio investments outlined in the bill before us. This budget is a health budget. The outcomes in this bill will deliver for all Australians. We will ensure Australia's health system is better equipped to meet current and future health needs by applying research, evaluation, innovation and the use of data to develop and implement integrated, evidence based health policies, and through support for sustainable funding for health infrastructure. We will provide sustainable funding for public hospital services and improve access to high-quality, comprehensive and coordinated preventive primary and mental health care for all Australians, with a focus on those with complex healthcare needs and those living in regional, rural and remote areas, including through access to a skilled health workforce. We will ensure access to cost-effective medicines and medical, dental and hearing services, and improve choice in health services, including through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Medicare, targeted assistance strategies and private health insurance.

Protection of the health and safety of the Australian community, and preparedness to respond to national health emergencies and risk, including through immunisation initiatives and regulation of therapeutic goods, chemicals, gene technologies— (Time expired)

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