Delay to Act result of sector consultation, says Minister

Senator David Pocock is once again increasing the pressure on the Albanese government in his demand for more Home Care Packages for older Australians.

The Independent Senator tabled a motion on Wednesday calling for the release of 20,000 Home Care Packages prior to the commencement of the new Aged Care Act on November 1.

This comes just days before the Senate Inquiry into aged care service delivery is due to hold a public hearing on Friday.

The Inquiry received over 50 submissions from the sector addressing the detrimental effect of the delays on older Australians, including unmet care needs, worsening health, increased pressure on unpaid carers, and premature entry into residential care.

Provider submissions expressed varying concerns from workforce instability and underutilised capacity, to difficulties in planning due to the uncertainty and lack of consistent package releases.

Submissions also highlighted the strain on hospitals and state health systems, as older individuals without adequate home care may experience avoidable hospitalisations and extended stays, exacerbating already significant bed block issues.

Uniting NSW.ACT made a submission to the Senate Inquiry, calling for the urgent reforms required to ensure older people are not left behind.

“The current delays are not just an administrative inconvenience they are deeply personal, affecting health, independence, and wellbeing,” the provider said in a statement.

“These delays are compounded by the financial stress many pensioners who rent face, with the proposed co-contribution model under the Support at Home program risking exclusion of those most in need.”

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae defended the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care’s decision to postpone the commencement of the new Aged Care Act.

“When I was made the Minister after the election, the first thing that I did, and the thing that I took most seriously, was to ensure that I did a lot of listening,” he said.

“I met with older people all across the country. I met with [...] the sector, and providers within the sector. I met with workers and their representatives. And the overwhelming message that I got was that they wanted to see a brief deferral, from 1 July to 1 November of the new Aged Care Act.

“They weren’t ready.”

Minister Rae went on to say that a number of issues arose in the lead up to the substantial reform, such as workforce shortages, which would affect the sector’s ability to ensure the continuity of care that older Australians need.

“For that reason, we made the decision, it was a difficult decision, for that brief deferral from 1 July to 1 November. But we did it on the advice of experts and older people, and that’s been broadly welcomed,” he said.

When pressed on the delivery of Home Care Packages Minister Rae said the government is rolling out an average of 2700 packages a week.

“Up until November, we’ll continue to roll out on average above 2000 packages every single week. And [...] people who are assessed as high priority will continue to receive their packages within a month,” he explained.

“This is the design and the implementation of an entirely new system. We saw the Royal Commission. We saw the harrowing stories that came out of it. [The new Act] is about safety, it’s about dignity and it’s about high-quality care for every older Australian.

“We’ve got an ageing population, so demand on our aged care services will continue to grow. We want to make sure that we get more care and better care for every older person.”