Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to draw the attention of the House to the atrocious waiting lists that continue for older Australians to access in-home care packages and the dire circumstances that families now find themselves in. With 105,000 older Australians still on the waiting list—and this is old data, from back in December last year—families are approaching those of us on this side of the House with so many stories now about their inability to access packages to keep their loved ones living at home for longer.

Just today, a constituent's issue was brought to my attention. Having applied some 12 months ago for an in-home care package for assistance for his mother, an acceptance for a level 3 package finally came in. Unfortunately, it comes eight months after his mother passed away.

People are dying whilst waiting for space in aged care and for in-home packages. This is diabolical. The government is releasing just 4,000 places per year over the next four years, when there are 105,000 Australians in need. We need the new data released. I know the minister was holding off until the by-elections took place. The by-elections are out of the way. Give us the new data— (Time expired)