Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care, Senator Nash. A national prioritisation list for the Home Care Packages Program was introduced in February, but vulnerable older Australians are still in the dark about where they are in the queue and how long they will have to wait to receive a package. Minister Ken Wyatt first promised to release the wait-time data in July and, following that failure, recommitted to do so by the end of August. Given it is now the second week in September, when will the Turnbull government finally release this information?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the detail of the question, I will take that on notice for the senator.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Polley, a supplementary question.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm surprised that the government hasn't been able to give a proper briefing to the minister. How many older Australians are waiting for each level of the aged care home care packages?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I'm happy to provide that for the senator on notice.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Polley, a final supplementary question.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Vulnerable older people are being forced out of their own homes and into residential care and hospitals and, in more dire cases, are passing away while they are still waiting for support from the Turnbull government. Why is the Turnbull government failing to act to support older Australians?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would reject the assertion that people are passing away waiting for assistance from the Turnbull government.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order, Senator Polley.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. The point of order is: if the minister was unable and failed to answer my original question and the second—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No; the minister was answering the question, Senator Polley. What is your point of order?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

how can she assert that she takes exception to the fact that people are dying waiting for this government to give them the support they need?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Senator Polley, that was exactly what your question was to the minister and the minister was answering your question. So there is no point of order and the minister is in order.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President. I rejected that and I will take the rest of the question on notice.