Aged Care

Holzberger argued that the opposition was politicising a system they had previously supported and ignored the Royal Commission's findings of neglect under the previous government. Holzberger stated that median wait times for standard priority had decreased from 10 to 11 months to seven or eight months. Holzberger highlighted that assessment times had dropped to under a month and noted the government's willingness to adjust co-payment rules for clinical care services.

Pike emphasised the distress caused by wait times of nearly a year for standard priority packages, arguing this was unacceptable for frail older Australians. Pike cited a KPMG report indicating almost 100,000 people were waiting for approved care and noted a local survey where 52 per cent of respondents waited nine months or more. Pike described constituent experiences where approved packages did not translate into actual care due to provider shortages and complex navigation requirements.

Clutterham highlighted federal funding of $3.4 billion for new aged care beds in Adelaide, including 48 new beds at Amber Aged Care. Clutterham argued that the government valued aged care workers, citing pay rises that had increased registered nurses' annual income by more than $36,000 since 2022. Clutterham stated that these investments were necessary to address the generational challenge of an ageing population and to ensure dignified care.

Webster argued that 200,000 people were waiting for assessment or care, with significant delays in regional areas. Webster criticised the government for providing only 60 per cent of assessed package funding, forcing out-of-pocket costs on elderly residents. Webster highlighted the inadequacy of phone-based assessments for complex needs, such as those of blind residents, and argued that the government was prioritising residential care over home support.

Byrnes stated that the government had invested $35.2 billion in aged care reforms, including historic pay rises and increased onsite nursing presence. Byrnes highlighted the rollout of 83,000 new Support at Home packages and $3.7 billion in recent budget funding for beds and home care. Byrnes noted local investments in the Illawarra region, including $25.9 million for 73 new beds to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Ryan identified gaps in the system where approval for Support at Home resulted in loss of access to Commonwealth Home Support Program equipment. Ryan called for the adoption of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standards to improve data sharing between aged care and hospitals. Ryan urged the government to invest in national assistive technology loan schemes and ensure synchronous funding for home modifications to prevent service interruptions.

Ryan presented data showing that wait times for Support at Home had decreased across all priority categories since the program began. Ryan noted that urgent cases received funding within a month and standard priority waits had dropped to seven to eight months. Ryan highlighted the release of 32,000 new places this financial year and stated that in-hospital assessment times remained under one day.