Question Time AU

General Debate

Aged Care Act 2024

Senate · Thursday 6 November 2025

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The Australian Greens moved a motion noting that the Aged Care Act 2024 reforms failed to address delays, insufficient packages, and assessment wait times. Penny Allman-Payne argued the government prioritised corporate profits over care, citing high out-of-pocket costs and long waitlists. She contended that privatisation and co-payments increased burdens on carers, particularly women, and that government-run facilities provided better stability. The motion was passed following a division.

Outcome

The motion was passed by a division of 35 votes to 22.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Penny Allman-Payne (QLD) (Australian Greens) Greens

Allman-Payne argued that the reforms introduced on 1 November 2025 did not resolve unacceptable delays or uncertainty in aged care. Allman-Payne claimed the government capped home-care packages, creating a one-year waitlist, while providers increased profits. Allman-Payne stated that co-payments forced carers, disproportionately women, to provide more unpaid care or face unaffordable costs. Allman-Payne cited figures of 100,000 people waiting for packages and 120,000 waiting for assessments, noting 5,000 deaths occurred while waiting for care. Allman-Payne advocated for non-profit, government-run aged care to ensure consistent staffing and quality.

Votes during this debate

Division 11: Aged Care Act 2024 Passed 35–22