Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition is committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of older Australians, and we hope the Albanese government continues our generational reform of the aged-care system for the benefit of all residents.

The opposition called on the Labor government to prioritise keeping vulnerable older Australians safe, something they failed to do in 2022 and, unfortunately, it looks like they have failed again. The minister earlier today couldn't tell us how many Australians have died from COVID in residential aged care since the 2022 election—couldn't answer that question. This government has neglected older Australians through devastating COVID outbreaks at the end of last year. Shamefully, the minister characterised her response to this situation as a 'watching brief'. How long are you going to watch? Act! This last wave of the COVID-19 virus has seen more aged-care residents die of COVID in the first eight months of the Albanese government than in the whole 2½ years dealing with the pandemic. It flies in the face of transparency that, in the exact same week that marked this serious milestone, the data reporting changed. The minister said she would put the care back into aged care, but, instead, she has ripped out the measures put in place to protect older Australians through the pandemic and has now changed the reporting system, which raises further serious questions.

Sensible measures like supplying PPE and RATs to residential aged care are important, but the tragic statistics show that is not enough. The government also ended the most effective vaccine program, Operation COVID Shield, despite health advice that vaccination is the most effective defence against new waves of the pandemic. All Australians want and expect our older Australians to be well supported and cared for in our community, including in residential aged-care homes. That is why in government the coalition called the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, to ensure our oldest and most vulnerable Australians receive care that supports and respects their dignity and recognises the important contribution they have made to society. The final report of the royal commission makes 148 recommendations. Following 23 public hearings over 99 days, 641 witnesses and over 10,000 public submissions, they are the product of wise and compassionate scrutiny of Australia's aged-care system.

In response to the royal commission, the coalition committed $19.1 billion to a five-year plan to improve aged care with new home-care packages, respite services, training places, retention bonuses and infrastructure upgrades. The opposition remains committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of older Australians and understands the important role that aged-care providers, care workers and nurses play in ensuring this support is provided in residential aged-care settings. I acknowledge the work that they have done and that they continue to do.

During the election campaign Labor said they would 'put the care back into aged care'. Instead they have delayed the delivery of the Fair Work Commission's 15 per cent pay rise for Australia's hardworking and dedicated aged-care staff. This is another shocking broken promise from the Labor government. After repeatedly committing to fully fund the outcome of the pay rise case, the Labor government have now announced that they will only deliver a 10 per cent rise next year for the sector, with the remaining five per cent delayed an entire year.

This government has neglected older Australians through devastating COVID outbreaks. At the end of last year, shamefully, the minister characterised her response, again, as a 'watching brief'. The minister did say she would put the 'care back into aged care'. We look forward to seeing evidence of that and the data that supports that.

Question agreed to.