Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

I have listened to the interjections from Senator Ruston, and I note her use of the term 'national disgrace'. It's an interesting choice of term because that is what a commissioner on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Ms Briggs, called it. She called the performance of the aged-care system under you 'a national disgrace'. It was neglectful, and there is a lot of work to do to resolve it, and the government has been pleased to work with senators across the chamber to put these important reforms in place. We know that it is important to make sure people get the care that they require. Older Australians who are currently assessed as high priority continue to receive their package within a month. Just in the last five years we have gone from 155,000 people accessing in-home care to over 300,000 people. There is more to do, and we intend to do it. (Time expired)