Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to give a shout-out to our amazing aged-care workers. Over the last few months, when we've not been in this place, I've had the opportunity to visit a number of aged-care homes in my electorate, and I'm really struck by the dedication and commitment of our aged-care workers: the cleaners, chefs, nurses and patient-care assistants. Everyone that I spoke to during these visits spoke about their love for the job and their respect for the residents.

They've had a tough few years with the pandemic, with all of the changes occurring in aged care and with the royal commission, which really put a spotlight on the work that they do. We're now implementing the recommendations of the royal commission, and whilst they all welcome them—they believe that the sector will be better for it—they are still quite anxious about what it means for them and their jobs. They're also very excited and relieved to be getting a decent pay rise. They wanted to thank me and asked that I pass on their thanks to our government for what we've done and how we've backed our aged-care workers. The residents spoke to me about their love for what they call their 'angels' and about the respect that the staff show them.

We all owe our aged-care workers a great deal of thanks. Thank you for what you've done over the past few years and what you'll do in the future. You deserve every cent of the pay rise coming to you, and you'll always have a friend and a supporter in the Albanese Labor government.