Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) that the former Government made record investments which saw more than 227,000 people access home care packages, including our past two budgets which released an additional 80,000 home care packages to support older Australians;

(b) the Government has released just 9,500 additional packages;

(c) stakeholder concerns about the availability of in-home aged care services and the significant wait times being experienced by elderly Australians seeking to access care; and

(d) many providers now have so many clients on their waiting lists that they have closed the lists altogether, leaving vulnerable Australians without vital supports; and

(2) calls on the Government to immediately address shortfalls for aged care packages to allow Australians to access the support they need, when they need it.

Supporting elderly Australians through aged care supports is one of the key roles of a federal government in Australia. It acknowledges the invaluable contributions that Australians have made in their working lives, as carers, in their personal lives and in building communities. Our safety net in Australia ensures that after years of hard work seniors and older Australians can receive the necessary supports and assistance that they require as they age.

The coalition has a proud history of supporting elderly Australians to live fulfilled lives through providing these programs and supports. The former Liberal government made record investments in the sector which saw more than 227,000 people access home care packages. Our last two budgets released an additional 80,000 home care packages to support older Australians to remain independent where possible and stay home as long as they wish with appropriate supports in place. This is in stark contrast to the current Labor government, which talks a big game on aged care supports but has released just 9,500 additional packages since coming to government before this latest budget. As of December 2023, we had 51,044 people on the home care package waitlist. This new budget provides for an extra 24,100 packages. It's clearly an improvement on the 9½ thousand but not even half of those on the waitlist.

These aren't 'nice to have' packages; these are necessities for older Australians. For many, they are the key to a quality life. Under the current government, this sadly hasn't been the case for many seniors and elderly Australians in my community. Participants in my community who have the Commonwealth home services program packages have not had a smooth transition from the previous council-run service to the new Commonwealth provider. This year alone, my office has been contacted by many constituents who have been told by service providers that their waitlist had closed, with too many people already on them. Those service providers that do have waitlists do not have enough workforce to provide for those on their list. The only way that people can get onto the waitlist is when someone else no longer needs their package, whether that's through moving away, going into aged care or, sadly, passing away. It should never be the case that elderly Australians must wait for fellow Australians to pass away before they can access the care they need and deserve.

I would like to share some examples from across my community in the Yarra Ranges to paint a picture of the circumstances my constituents are facing. I'll begin with John, who is 92, from Lilydale and needs garden maintenance and mowing. John is unable to even get on the waitlist, with all providers saying their waitlists are full. Majorie, who is 99 and from Chirnside Park, needs additional respite hours for her family, who are her full-time carers, as well as a wheelchair, a walker and podiatry services. She recently had her two hours per week cut back to 1½ hours. There's John, who is 80 and from Montrose, who has muscular dystrophy and is no longer able to do his garden maintenance. John requires new assessments but had to wait five weeks for that assessment to happen, wait for the package to be provided and then wait again for services to become available for him. There's Lorraine, who is 89 and from Chirnside Park. She needs assistance with shopping and home and garden maintenance but has been told that 'no-one is available to help at the moment' and to keep checking in with the service provider. This is an elderly woman who needs help to get the basic necessities at the supermarket, and no-one is available.

This doesn't just impact the lives of the clients; it impacts their families and carers, who have no choice but to follow up with these providers and departments. It's simply not good enough. These situations aren't just happening in the Yarra Ranges and Casey; they are happening across the country. The Albanese Labor government is failing to address this shortfall in aged-care packages, and elderly Australians are paying the price every day.

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