THREE WEEKS ON FROM SCATHING ROYAL COMMISSION INTERIM REPORT

Julie Collins MP.
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4 years ago
THREE WEEKS ON FROM SCATHING ROYAL COMMISSION INTERIM REPORT
Julie Collins MP
Scott Morrison continues to fail to act on aged care despite the urgent need for change based on the findings of the Royal Commission’s interim report released three weeks ago.
 
This is sadly consistent with the Liberal Government’s policy approach which has led to the crisis in aged care – review after review has been ignored.         
 
We already know that for every week that Scott Morrison delays action, 300 older Australians die without the home care package that they have been approved for.
 
This is completely unacceptable and should not be happening in a wealthy country like Australia.
 
The interim report of the Royal Commission into aged care described the unacceptable number of older Australians waiting for home care as ‘unsafe practice’ and ‘neglect’.
 
The Morrison Government has all the information it needs to immediately fund more packages.
 
But as the number of older Australians waiting for home care grew from 88,000 to 120,000 the Prime Minister hasn’t provided the home care older Australians need.
 
It is unsurprising given Scott Morrison was the man who ripped $1.2 billion from aged care in his first Budget.
 
After the damning release of the Royal Commission’s interim report Scott Morrison has refused to put a figure on how many new home care packages his Government will deliver and when the packages will be available. 
 
With 16,000 older Australians dying in just one year waiting for the home care they have been approved for this is exactly why Labor is calling for the Government to act now on aged care.  
 
The Government has the answers on how to fix this crisis, it’s time it did something to support older Australians waiting for care.
 
Health and Aged Care