Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. How are the Albanese Labor government's aged-care reforms delivering safer, fairer and more dignified care for older Australians? Why were these reforms so critical?

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

I thank my friend the outstanding member for Lalor for her question and, more importantly, for her outstanding advocacy for older people in the community that we share in Melbourne's west. I was so proud to visit Sunset Views Manor in Tarneit with her over the weekend to meet the wonderful staff who deliver exceptional care to older people in our region.

On Saturday Australia turned the page on aged care, taking a once-in-a-generation step forward for older Australians. After nine long years of neglect under the Liberals, the Albanese Labor government is delivering the reforms older Australians were promised—safer, fairer, more dignified care.

The new Aged Care Act and brand new Support at Home program are now in effect, putting the rights of older people at their centre. For the first time, the new act enshrines in law a statement of rights, guaranteeing that every older Australian has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to make choices about their own care and to live free from abuse or neglect.

Support at Home is a simpler, fairer system that helps more Australians stay in their homes for longer. It means a higher level of care, less red tape and more flexibility for people to get the support they actually need, from help with personal care to home modifications and assistive technology. For people in residential care, we've lifted the bar on safety and quality, with stronger standards, a more powerful regulator and mandatory staffing levels that ensure every resident receives more direct care every single day.

These are the reforms the royal commission called for. They're reforms that older Australians deserve. While those opposite spent nine years failing older people and avoiding this overdue reform, our government has acted. Older Australians have contributed so much to their communities and to our country, they deserve a system that treats them with the respect they've earned over a lifetime. From Saturday, that's exactly what Labor has put into place—real reform, real improvements to the way we care for our loved ones.

I'm pleased to inform the House that, to date, the transition has gone smoothly, including the first tranche of ICT system updates that operationalise aspects of these reforms and that make navigating aged care simpler and smoother. We'll continue to monitor the changes closely to make sure the system is accessible, easy and fair for older Australians to use.

Labor's reforms are delivering better care: safer, fairer, and more dignified for every older Australian for generations to come.