Anika Wells (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

The May budget continues to deliver on our promise to Australians and continues to deliver on our pledge to build a better economy and a fairer society. Labor governments want to make Medicare stronger and medicines cheaper. The May budget invested up to $3 billion for cheaper medicines and the community pharmacies that distribute them, and we are freezing the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions for everyone who needs them. This year and next year, no-one will pay more than $31.60 for a PBS medication. Six out of 10 PBS scripts go to pensioners and concession card holders. We are freezing the cost of their medicines for five years, meaning that no pensioner and no concession card holder will pay more than $7.70 for the medicine that they need. In my north-side community, we have already seen the tangible benefits of Labor's cheaper medicines, with Lilley locals saving more than $2.1 million on reduced co-payments so far.

The Albanese Labor government has worked hard to improve the quality of life for older Australians. Since our first budget in October 2022, total investment in aged care has increased by 30 per cent. We have put nurses back into nursing homes. We have given residents more time with their carers. We have lifted wages in the sector. And we've improved transparency and accountability.

The 2024 budget builds on that work. It's a budget for the here and now and it's a budget for the decades to come. It's a budget that sets the aged-care sector up for the next stage of reform. The 2024 budget invests $2.2 billion to create stronger links between aged care and the rest of the health system, to deliver real benefits to older people in Australia. It will improve wait times for older Australians who need aged-care services in their home, reinforce the foundations that underpin quality care, bolster the aged-care workforce, deliver an enhanced regulator and create better digital systems.

The Albanese government understands that most older Australians want to live independently in their own home in the community they love, and, after the Treasurer handed down the budget last month, I travelled to Far North Queensland to meet with aged-care recipients and their carers. I met Patricia and her in-home carer, Chinatsu, at her home in Woree, about 15 minutes outside of Cairns. Patricia relocated from Adelaide with her late partner, Charlie, in 1988. They moved into their home a week after arriving, and she's lived there ever since. Since Charlie passed away, Patricia has remained independent in her home with the support of Chinatsu, who visits two hours a fortnight for domestic assistance and a chat. When I asked Patricia what her plans were for the future, she told me firmly: 'This is my home. I am going to live here.'

That's why, in the May budget, the Albanese government invested $531.4 million to fund an extra 24,100 home-care packages. This will help more people like Patricia to get the aged-care services that they need to live in their homes, and, importantly, it will bring down wait times before 300,000 home-care recipients are transferred across to our new Support at Home program.

The Albanese government understands the need to develop and grow the aged-care workforce and find more dedicated and skilled workers like Chinatsu. The 2024 budget invests $88.4 million to attract and retain skilled aged-care workers and to improve career pathways. We have extended the home-care workforce program to channel 4,000 workers to rural and remote areas. Our nursing clinical placements program will support 8,000 nursing students to undertake a clinical placement in aged care. Our Transition to Practice Program will empower 2,215 nurses to start a rewarding career in aged care. Our nursing scholarships program will give 1,050 students a scholarship to build their skills in aged care. Our skills development program will create free specialised modules for aged-care workers and volunteers to learn about topics like wound management, trauma-informed care and supporting people living with dementia.

These measures are in addition to other proud Labor initiatives including fee-free TAFE, more university places, more paid prac placements and a new visa pathway to attract international workers. I thank the House.

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