Question Time AU

Take Note Debate

Aged Care

Senate · Thursday 14 May 2026

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

At a glance

Senator David Pocock moved a motion to take note of the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme's answer regarding aged care services. Pocock criticised the government for releasing a report on waiting times during budget lock-up, arguing this reduced scrutiny. He highlighted discrepancies between ministerial statements and departmental estimates regarding the number of people waiting for care packages. The senator also noted that the budget contained no new home-care packages, only those brought forward from future years. The motion was agreed to without further debate.

Outcome

The question was agreed to.

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

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

David Pocock (ACT) (Independent) Ind

Pocock argued that the government was being secretive by releasing the aged care waiting times report during budget lock-up, a tactic he claimed reduced public scrutiny. Pocock pointed out a significant discrepancy between the minister's stated figure of 94,963 people waiting for a package and the department's estimate of 131,366 for the same date. Pocock questioned why it was difficult to obtain accurate figures on older Australians waiting for assessments and care. Pocock further stated that the budget did not include additional home-care packages, but rather brought forward ten thousand existing packages, which he described as misleading.