Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, and I refer to the government's decision to delay home-care-package rollouts from 1 July to 1 November. Almost 5,000 elderly Australians have died in the past year while on a waiting list for a home-care package. Will the minister apologise to these 5,000 families who have faced this tragedy and lost a loved one, and, Minister, how many more elderly Australians will have to die waiting for the government to stop the delays and commence the rollout?

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for the question. I'm always saddened when we hear of older Australians, whether they are in care or waiting for care, passing away. It's always distressing for people across the parliament and from any political party or crossbench group to hear of those stories. I offer my condolences to those families. It's the greatest example of why our reform process is so very important. The deferral to which the member's question refers is essentially arising from the nature of the legislation, which had bipartisan support and was passed through the last parliament. The legislative framework for the Support at Home program is enshrined within the legislation. The Support at Home program cannot begin before the legislation comes into effect. That will happen on 1 November, and from 1 November we will deliver an additional 83,000 packages under the Support at Home program as well as continue to support the more than 300,000 Australians who are currently cared for under our record Home Care Packages Program.