Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for his question and for his deep interest in issues of ageing and aged care.

Mr President, you and colleagues may recall that last year I was forced to cease the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement, which it would be fair to say was less than well designed by those opposite. The design premise of those opposite was that only 2,000 people would trigger provider eligibility for that supplement. In reality it ended up being 33,000 people who triggered provider eligibility, and rather than costing $11.7 million as budgeted it cost $135 million; and if the existing claiming patterns had continued, rather than costing $52 million over the forward estimates it would have cost $780 million and, indeed, $1.5 billion over 10 years.

At the time that I concluded that supplement I indicated that the government was determined to put in its place an alternative within the existing funding envelope over the forward estimates of about $52 million. I am very pleased, Mr President, to let you and colleagues know that as a result of consultation with the sector the government has announced that we will invest $54.5 million over four years to establish severe behaviour response teams. These teams will be a mobile workforce of clinical experts who will provide timely and expert advice to residential aged care providers that seek help to address the needs of people who manifest the most severe behaviours associated with dementia.