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

I think I thank Senator Fielding for his question, although perhaps not for the additional comments that went with it. It is a very important area, and I would hope that Senator Fielding does treat it with the respect that it deserves.

There are many senior Australians in the community who do need adequacy of funding for aged care. Of course, we are providing more funding for services than ever before. The 2010-11 budget builds on the Rudd government’s reform to aged care so that we will build a national aged-care system which will provide better support for older Australians. There will be $10.8 billion for 2010-11, an increase in total aged-care funding of nearly 30 per cent over the last three years. So we have put our money on the table; more than $47 billion for aged care and community care over the next four years.

Funding per resident has increased by more than $6,100 over the last three years, an increase of more than 16 per cent. The government will invest $900 million over the next four years to deliver, and it is about ensuring that we do these things. With the support of the opposition, we will be able to build a national-aged care system with more highly qualified aged-care workers, more aged-care places, more healthcare services and greater protection for older Australians.

I ask Senator Fielding, the opposition and the opposition spokesperson to support those initiatives about ensuring that we do provide for the aged-care facilities, so we do assist those in aged care. The package will also support—