Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Tyrrell for the question and for her ongoing interest in aged care, particularly in her state of Tasmania. I don't think you can just see care minutes in isolation from the other work that's being done in aged care to improve the sustainability of the sector and to encourage staff into the sector. For example, our support for the aged-care pay increase is linked to attracting and retaining staff in the aged-care sector. If you are getting better pay and better recognition for the work that you would do, you're not going to see the separation rates and changes or the loss of staff through that time.

But this is an adjustment for the sector. As you said, some areas are not able to meet those requirements, and that's something that we're going to have to continue to focus on. Certainly in my feedback that I've got from aged-care providers, the wage increase has been the single biggest thing that has changed the workforce situation for them. (Time expired)