Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

When the Prime Minister called the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, I think we all knew that the final report would deliver some home truths. We knew it wouldn't be pleasant reading. I'm sure that's one of the main reasons why the decision enjoyed such broad support from both sides of the House and across the political spectrum. That's also why it was so necessary that the Prime Minister acted in this way. You don't get anywhere by avoiding the big issues, and that's not what he did or what we plan to have happen.

The stories we heard through the royal commission's hearings and the media are harrowing; in some cases, they are downright distressing. If I'm honest with myself, I thought we were better than that. The commissioners have identified substandard care across the aged-care system and have agreed that fundamental and systemic reform is required. Our comprehensive response to this report takes up this challenge.

The response will be framed through five pillars: home care; residential aged-care quality and safety; residential aged-care services and sustainability; workforce; and government. In doing so, it will build upon our initial response announced at the start of this month, which included more than $450 million in funding in those areas. The government will commence work on a new Aged Care Act to ensure our reforms are built on strong foundations, with senior Australians at the centre and respect for individual needs at the front of our minds.

That is the path ahead of us, but the Morrison government is already delivering record investment across the aged-care system over the forward estimates, with $13.3 billion in funding in 2012-13, growing to more than $23 billion in 2020-21. It is estimated that funding for aged care will grow to more than $27 billion by 2023-24. That is on average $1.5 billion of extra support for older Australians each year over the forward estimates. On top of this, government funding for residential care this financial year is $14.1 billion, up from $9.2 billion in 2012-13.

Meanwhile, at the last election, Labor provided no additional funding in their costings for home care places and no additional funding for aged-care quality workforce or residential aged care. So, while I think we can all agree that aged care needs work, the implication of the member for Hotham's proposal, that the system would be any better under a Labor government, beggars belief. But we are not here to play politics; we are here to get the job done and to deliver for older Australians.

Under the Morrison Liberal government, home-care packages are up, residential care places are up and, as mentioned, record investment is being delivered across the aged-care system. That shows a commitment on behalf of this government to aged-care quality and safety. It shows a commitment and a belief in humanity dignity in aged care. And it shows a commitment to doing better by our old Australians. If we can agree on one thing in this place, it's this: they deserve it.

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