Aged Care

Le acknowledged the commencement of the new act but questioned whether it simplified the system or reduced waiting times. Le cited cases where individuals waited over 15 months for level 4 packages and noted difficulties for non-English speakers in navigating complex forms. While welcoming the $25,000 payment for end-of-life care, Le warned that capping administrative fees at 27 per cent might lead providers to increase prices elsewhere.

Gosling supported the reforms, reiterating the investment in wages and the improvement in star ratings. Gosling announced a $60 million investment through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program for a new 120-bed residential facility in Darwin. Additionally, Gosling noted an $18 million grant for a dementia-friendly unit at Pearl Supported Care in Fannie Bay, aiming to address supply shortages and support culturally safe care.

Penfold argued that staffing shortages were worsening due to slow visa processing, with 407 training visas taking up to 11 months to process. Penfold cited constituent experiences of waiting 18 months for home care packages and difficulties finding occupational therapists for home modifications. Penfold also criticised the introduction of co-payments under the Support at Home program, noting that Labor had previously introduced co-payments in other health sectors.

Ambihaipahar emphasised the rights-based framework of the new act, which ensures older people's decisions are respected. Ambihaipahar shared examples of constituents who faced delays in funding and assessments, arguing the new system should prevent such issues by enshrining patient agency. Ambihaipahar highlighted that the reforms provide bigger budgets and separate streams for home modifications to help people stay at home.

Venning argued that the changes caused confusion and higher costs, noting that price caps on at-home services would not apply until July 2026. Venning stated that over 230,000 older Australians were waiting for home care support, citing research that waits longer than six months increased mortality risk by 18 per cent. Venning claimed the reforms failed to address the specific needs of regional communities, leaving families to manage care burdens without adequate support.