Aged care stakeholders – including the Opposition, Greens and independent politicians – have welcomed the government’s announcement on Wednesday that it will release 20,000 additional home care packages before 1 November and another 20,000 Support at Home places between then and the end of the year.
It has also promised to release another 43,000 new Support at Home places – the remainder of the 83,000 promised new places – in the first half of 2026.
These are among amendments proposed by Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston during the ongoing debate this fortnight over amendment legislation required to pass this week so the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program can commence on 1 November.
The Opposition along with the crossbench have been calling for the release of additional packages to clear the growing waitlist for home care, which was revealed in the Senate on Wednesday to include more than 108,000 people at 31 July, who are already approved for a package.
This is on top of the 120,000 waiting for an aged care assessment, which was revealed by the department during last Friday’s Senate inquiry hearing.
Minister for Health, Ageing and Disability Mark Butler and Minister for Aged Care and Seniors announced the early release of packages at a press conference on Wednesday, where Mr Butler said he was supporting the Opposition’s amendments.
“I’m pleased to announce we’ve reached a position where we can support the position of Senator Ruston in the Senate when it comes to a vote over the course of today,” he told the press conference.
“That reflects an agreed position between the two major parties, the two parties of government. I hope now that means we can get this legislation through the Senate.”
The bills are critical for the commencement of the new Aged Care Act and the accompanying Support at Home program, Mr Rae added.
“I am very happy that we now have a bipartisan pathway to passing these bills,” he said.
Stakeholders pleased, but call for more
Ageing Australia was quick to welcome the decision to immediately release 20,000 home care packages.
“We congratulate the Government on heeding our calls, with so many Australians waiting for care in their own homes,” said Ageing Australia chief executive officer Tom Symondson.
“Providers are ready to act immediately and deliver more packages across Australia. As we heard recently, 98 per cent of members tell us they have the capacity and are ready to go.”
Mr Symondson also thanked all sides of politics for championing this issue.
“This is the start of the long road to getting people off waitlists and getting the care they need.”
Calling it a shared victory for the Opposition and crossbench, Senator Ruston told a press conference on Wednesday she welcomed “the last minute” announcement.
“We are pleased that we actually have been able to deliver this for the 83,000 older Australians who have been left in limbo over the last few months and were intended to be left in limbo until at least the first of November by the inaction of this government.
“And I would point out that this government has not released one new home care package this financial year.
“So today, in a sense, this small victory that we’ve been able to achieve, in conjunction with our colleagues in the Senate, in the Greens and certainly David Pocock, that we’ve been able to deliver something for the older Australians who had been crying out to us to stand up for them,” she said.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock – who joined with crossbenchers in June to call for the immediate release of home care packages and spearheaded the Senate’s home care inquiry underway – also moved an amendment for the release of 20,000 packages before 1 November. The government did not support it, but it still got through.
“The Government should have never delayed these additional home care packages. My amendment to release additional packages got supported in the Senate today despite the aged care minister’s opposition,” Mr Pocock said.
“Now the health minister has stepped in and announced the government will release the 20,000 additional home care packages the crossbench has been calling for since June,” he said.
While today’s announcement is a huge win for community advocacy and will make a huge difference to older Australians, there is still so much more to do, said Mr Pocock.
“121,000 older Australians are waiting for an assessment and 108,000 are waiting for a package.”
The Greens called the announcement “a humiliating defeat” for Labor.
Greens spokesperson for Older People and chair of the inquiry Senator Penny Allman-Payne said the government has been forced to end the pointless delays and start getting older Australians the essential care that they need.
“Labor has resisted all calls to do the right thing, so now the Senate has forced them to.
“We had to drag the government kicking and screaming, but after losing a vote in the Senate we have finally forced them to do the right thing by older people,” she said.
“In a wealthy country like Australia, we can afford to look after our older people.”
COTA Australia chief executive Patricia Sparrow said the decision would provide immediate relief to many older Australians and their families.
“This is a common-sense move and we look forward to seeing it pass through Parliament as soon as possible,” Ms Sparrow said.
“We accepted a delay to the new Aged Care Act to make sure the system was ready – but home care packages should never have been tied up in that delay. We told the government that at the time, and we’re pleased to see action now to rectify it.”
Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers called the announcement a direct response to the voices of older Australians and advocates across the country.
“We welcome this much-needed investment. It will mean that thousands more people can finally get the care they need, when and where they need it. It shows that the government is listening to the growing chorus calling for urgent action,” she said.
But Ms Chambers said the announcement must be a first step and not the last with so many people still waiting and concerns the new system will inherit a massive backlog from day one.
“If we can build on this momentum, we can make sure the new system starts strong and delivers on its promise. That means every older Australian can get the care they need, when they need it – and that’s something we can all celebrate.”
While a positive step, the Older Persons Advocacy Network agrees more work must be done to protect and safeguard the interests of older people.
“This is good news especially in advance of the new Aged Care Act commencing on 1 November,” said Samantha Edmonds, OPAN’s director of policy, education and systemic advocacy.
“Once an older person has been approved for the appropriate level of in-home support, they typically wait another 12 months to receive it. Untenable delays such as these put older people at significant risk of adverse outcomes. Older people should not have to wait more than 30 days for in home support
“These delays have an adverse impact on a person’s dignity and wellbeing. We have a shared responsibility to alleviate this challenge,” she said.
This article was originally published in Community Care Review.
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