Aged Care

Holzberger argued that the reforms were not introduced quietly, noting Coalition support in 2024, and emphasised the unprecedented scale of demand driven by an ageing population. Holzberger stated that the Government was actively improving the system, citing the decision to make showering and continence care free from October. Holzberger defended the Integrated Assessment Tool, explaining it was designed to address previous issues where billions in funds went unspent due to overclassification. Holzberger urged members to vote against the motion and support the Government's continuous improvement efforts.

Birrell supported the motion, stating that families across Australia reported delays, bureaucracy, and financial hardship rather than timely care. Birrell cited examples of older people being denied clinical services by an artificial intelligence system that assessors could not override, and of patients waiting months for basic items or reassessments. Birrell highlighted that service costs had increased significantly under the new program, with fees doubling in some cases, while transparency remained elusive. Birrell argued that regional areas faced particular challenges due to a shortage of providers and support workers, and called for the Government to treat older Australians with dignity.

Phillips acknowledged the challenges in her electorate but argued that wait times had halved since the new Aged Care Act was introduced in November 2025. Phillips highlighted record investments in aged care, including $115 million for the Illawarra region and $45 billion in the recent budget to increase beds and support at home. Phillips noted that new facilities were underway in Gilmore to address delayed-discharge pressures on hospitals. Phillips stated that the Government was delivering safer, fairer, and more transparent care that allowed older Australians to remain independent and connected to their communities.

Ryan supported the motion, citing the case of a constituent with motor neurone disease who was denied the highest level of support despite severe needs. Ryan noted that the Commonwealth Ombudsman was investigating the Integrated Assessment Tool and that Senate estimates revealed the human override capability had been removed without consultation. Ryan pointed out that the number of review requests had risen sharply, from 170 in 2024-25 to 989 by March 2026, suggesting widespread dissatisfaction. Ryan supported a private member's bill in the Senate to restore assessor discretion and improve transparency in decision-making.

Neumann argued that the Government had invested billions in aged care and reduced waiting times across all priority levels, with urgent cases funded within a month. Neumann stated that 83,000 additional in-home care places had been delivered, with another 32,000 planned, bringing the total to 420,000 by the end of 2026-27. Neumann highlighted the provision of $1 billion to make personal care services free of charge. Neumann criticised the Coalition for cutting aged care funding and workforce supplements when they were in government, arguing they had failed to care for older Australians.