Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak against the motion on this government's actions to assist older Australians to stay in their homes longer. As I said in my maiden speech, we do need to do more for our older Australians who need assistance. I commend the minister and this government on making it a priority to invest more in aged care. In my electorate of Cowper 27 per cent are over the age of 65 and that is rising at 1.3 per cent per year. This government promised to increase the number of home care packages, Commonwealth Home Support and residential home care places and that is what it has done. And it can only be done with a strong budget underpinning investment. We have increased our aged-care funding from $13.3 billion, when this government came in, to over $23.5 billion in 2021.

In the last 12 months we have increased the numbers of home care packages from 99,000 up to over 125,000. This is now projected to increase to 157,000 by 2022-23. This increase has seen a significant reduction in the waiting times and a decrease in the number of people waiting for their approved packages—down by 9,000 in the previous quarter.

The opposition claims that this government cuts spending on aged care when it has actually increased year on year. They need to stick to facts, look at the real story and offer meaningful debate over the best way to address the challenges ahead in aged care.

The national prioritisation system, or queue, provides a framework for the assessment and allocation of home care packages consistently and equitably across the nation based on the person's needs and circumstances. A person's position in the national queue is determined by their priority for home care services and the time they have waited for care. People receiving approval for packages can receive an interim package whilst remaining on the queue. Over 97 per cent of people are provided with the opportunity to access services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program to ensure that they have options to address their care needs whilst awaiting their approved home care package. The system ensures that most people who are approved for care, and particularly high needs of care, have access to some level of subsidised care in their home whilst waiting for their packages for their approved level.

As at 30 June 2019 there were 47,000 people waiting for home care packages at their approved level and had been offered a lower level package. This figure is down by over 5,800. In the June 2019 quarter 74 per cent of people have accepted their offer for an interim package while still considering their offer. Just over 12,000 of these people did not take up the offer for various reasons—perhaps deciding to go into residential care, they do not need the level of care approved for that time or they are happy with the services they have been receiving. I accept, if we're going to have an honest conversation, that there are still 72,000 people who are waiting for a home care package at the approved level who have not been offered a package. However, that figure is down from the last quarter. Whilst this figure represents a considerable challenge, 95.6 per cent had been provided with access to Commonwealth Home Support Program. Importantly, the number of people approved for level 4 packages who have not yet been offered a package fell by 34 per cent or 11,000 people. Those waiting for a level 3 package also fell.

I, like many of my colleagues, would rather engage in policy discussion on how to ensure older people in our regions and rural and remote communities can have a choice in providers, can access services and can stay in communities and close to their families. I recently met with a constituent in my electorate. Her husband has approval for a level 4 package but cannot find a provider to travel the 53 kilometres from Kempsey to provide services that will enable him to come home from his residential care facility. I'm pleased that the number of home care providers has continued to grow, including in my region of the mid-north coast. I will continue to work with my constituents, our regional providers and my colleagues on how we can improve access to services.

There is more work to do. There are challenges now and into the future. This government has a plan and we have been doing that in a calm and considered way.

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