Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Unlike some of the facts—or perhaps the lack of facts—that have been outlined in the question, the government will invest more than $900 million over the next four years to deliver more qualified staff, more aged-care places, more healthcare services and greater protection for older Australians receiving care. This will include up to $280 million to the states and territories to support long-stay older patients in public hospitals for 2,000 time-limited places. That is what this government is doing.

In addition, over the next four years the government will provide more than $47 million for aged care and community care and build on the more than 10,000 new places that have become operational, and also provide a 20 per cent increase in funding for aged care. That is what this government has done in this budget to support older Australians, particularly those people seeking aged care and stay.

In addition, for a national aged-care system, which the opposition were incapable of delivering in their 12 years in government, we are looking at $38.3 million being made available to take responsibility for the Home and Community Care Program—other than in Victoria and Western Australia—and to build a consistent aged-care system covering basic care at home through to nursing homes. That is what this government is doing.

In addition, there is $36.8 million to establish one-stop shops to provide aged-care information and assessments to help older Australians and their families to access the services that best suit their needs. This government is working in this area to ensure—