Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Hansard source

We all want our older Australians to have the care that they need and the care that they deserve. But Labor's ill-conceived plan to go against the advice of the royal commission and expedite the 24/7 registered nurses a year ahead of what was recommended by the commission is threatening the very viability of our aged-care sector. The most pressing issue facing aged-care providers—and this has been known for several years now—is of course workforce shortages. Surely Labor gets this, but the response of the Albanese government has been to introduce legislation to make the situation worse and then deliver a budget that fails to fund the comprehensive and multifaceted workforce strategy solutions that are required. Despite her acknowledgement that the sector is 'thousands of workers short' of the staffing requirements and that we are just one month out from the government's self-imposed deadline, the minister has failed to provide any additional support or flexibility to this crucial sector.

Providers are calling for an exemption or some of the criteria to be expanded while the current workforce crisis is ongoing. This would give them the assurance that they need in the time that they need it, but the Albanese Labor government continues to ignore their concerns. The minister must start to listen to those she represents in the aged-care sector itself. The government is directly responsible for the closure of aged-care sector homes right across the country. This is resulting in older Australians being forced from their homes, and those who are living in rural, regional and remote Australia are being forced to move miles away from their communities, families and friends. The safety and care of older Australians must be the main priority of this government, not politics. The question for the minister is: will the government start to listen to the concerns of the aged-care providers across the country and expand the exemption criteria for 24/7 nurses?

With an ageing population, the coalition understands the need for sustainable aged care for all Australians now and for the future. As stated by the opposition leader in the budget-in-reply speech, we are committed to working constructively with government to improve the sector's sustainability. The announcement of an aged-care task force to look at the sustainability solution is a welcome development. Fittingly, this task force will be providing advice to government. However, it is deeply concerning that this very task force will be chaired by the minister herself. Surely the government knows and recognises that this is not appropriate. It will not result in genuine consultation, and will have the government not the aged-care sector as its focus. Minister, if the task force has been set up to provide genuine consultation-driven advice to government on aged-care sustainability, why did the Minister for Aged Care think it was appropriate to appoint herself as the chair?

The minister's refusal to rule out an aged-care tax is deeply concerning and is concerning for wider Australia. The coalition stands ready to work constructively with the government on future sustainability of our critical aged-care sector, but increasing taxes is not the answer. This policy directly contradicts the government's election promise that there would be no new taxes under their watch. Minister, here's a question for you: will the government commit to keeping that promise and rule out a new aged-care tax imposed on our older Australians?

Finally, if you look through the latest budget papers, you'll see that $2.2 billion has been ripped away from residential aged care. This indicates that the minister's continual statements that the Albanese government is expanding the number of aged-care beds doesn't add up. Minister, can you please provide and outline why the government is ripping $2.2 billion from residential aged care at a time when we have an ageing population and a crisis?

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