Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

What a disingenuous government we have here! The government is trying to be warm and fuzzy, but it's a bit too late when the architect of a policy to cuts aged care is today's Prime Minister. In his very first budget as Treasurer he was responsible for ripping $1.2 billion out of care for older Australians. How can you rip $1.2 billion out of looking after our older Australians and it not have a negative effect? That's why people are dying while waiting on the list for aged-care packages. Constituents that come to see me regularly, every day, every week, complain about being on a list whilst they're waiting for care. What's happening while they're waiting? They're deteriorating. Not only do they deteriorate but so do their carers. This is a cruel government that has been misleading the Australian public and especially our older Australians, who have worked and paid taxes all their lives, many of whom have fought in wars to make the country what it is today and build the foundations we all enjoy as Australians. The least we could do is give them the dignity in care they require in their older years. This system is in crisis. No wonder it's in crisis when you have pulled out $1.2 billion. We're not talking about a million here or there; $1.2 billion from a sector. That was one budget. (Time expired)

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