The Albanese Government’s last-minute decision to delay the implementation of Support at Home price caps by 12 months yet again confirms Labor’s aged care rollout has been badly mishandled, Shadow Minister for Regional Health Dr Anne Webster MP said today,

“The delays in home care services and even assessments to get care have become diabolical under Labor, who have been secretive about the data,” Member for Mallee Dr Webster said.

“Mallee constituents are coming to me saying they are being overcharged and Labor have kicked price caps and other protections down the road because the Aged Care Minister is simply out of his depth.”

Recent – and overdue – aged care waitlist data released under the cover of the Federal Budget shows that wait times for access to home care have now blown out to more than 12 months, compared with around 8 months under the previous system which Labor called a ‘national disgrace’, ‘broken’, a ‘shame on our nation’ and a ‘national embarrassment’.

The data breakdown also shows Grampians region in Victoria (including Hindmarsh, Horsham, Yarriambiack, West Wimmera, Pyrenees and Northern Grampians shires) has Victoria’s second-worst wait times – an average of 388 days.

“For Minister Rae to try to hide behind the Iran war as an excuse is dishonest.  It’s like saying the dog ate my homework, or blaming the previous minister for doing a terrible job.  Labor have been in government for 4 years now, the Minister is 1 year into his job.  On Labor’s watch, significantly before the war in Iran began 80 days ago, wait times have been getting worse, not better.”

The Coalition welcomes the new working group bringing together COTA, OPAN, Ageing Australia and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to help determine an appropriate and sustainable approach to pricing.

“It is important the aged care clients, consumer groups and regulators are properly consulted to ensure any pricing arrangements are workable, sustainable and do not reduce access to care for older Australians,” Dr Webster said.

‍