Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hillview Bunyip hostel, located 150 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and West Gippsland, are a not-for-profit community based aged-care facility of the highest standard. So far they have done the good work they do on their own. Born out of the Bunyip bush nursing hospital, the centre is now a hub for employment and business in Bunyip and district. Hillview hostel, run by locals for locals, provides care in the district for its residents, and its committee has its hand up for a fair share of our national wealth. There is nothing worse than a family being told that the aged-care bed facility that will be provided is many kilometres away, foreign to them and foreign to their loved one's needs.

The small and not-for-profit providers have been neglected by successive governments in provision of capital and a fair share of the aged-care bed allocations. The government has favoured large providers in the for-profit sector. Regional aged-care providers in this nation deserve a fair go, and I will continue to voice their concerns in this place until they receive equal treatment to those city based for-profit providers. Regional Australia deserves the best aged care we can possibly provide. As sure as night follows day, one day it will be you we are caring for.