Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Health) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Franklin for her question. And yes, I did say that in the chamber. I said it at a point in time when the context had to be considered as to why I made those comments. If you remember, I made the comments that I was slow to anger on many issues, but what I've done and continue to do is to act to put in place the reforms that are absolutely necessary. That includes Living Longer and having choice in the budget proposals that we focused on with better access to care, better quality of care and, more importantly, ageing well. At the time I made that comment the Leader of the Opposition called me shortly after question time, and he and I had a discussion. But it doesn't change my position on wanting to make sure that every senior Australian in this nation who built this country and has given us everything that we've taken for granted deserves the things that we put in place.

We will continue to do the reform in a number of areas. In terms of workforce, I appointed John Pollaers to head up a task force to look at the workforce needs in the aged-care sector, because the numbers will increase from 366,000 to 920,000 by 2050. I want to see a workforce that provides the nurturing and the care, and the aged-care workforce that I have had the privilege of meeting in 100 facilities across this nation I would stand beside. I would stand beside them because I have seen them deliver good care. I have seen them deliver compassion. I have seen them at the funerals of people they've cared for. The aged-care workforce has been absolutely tremendous, and what I want to do, with our government and working with the Prime Minister, is have our government look at the opportunities that we create for pathways into aged care that look after senior Australians. It is absolutely important. And I don't reconcile from the stance that I've taken on a number of issues, because I have a total commitment to making sure that we in this House collectively provide the pathways that ensure that the programs we put in place have bipartisan support. What I put in place with the Prime Minister out of the royal commission and what we put in place continually from our budget programs will continue to ensure that we have quality of life for senior Australians wherever they live—in cities, in regional Australia, in remote Australia and in country towns where the numbers are small, because our senior Australians have the social capacity and deserve the quality of life that they have earnt through their hard work. (Time expired)

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