Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I'll now deal with the second reading amendments circulated by the Australian Greens. The question is that the amendments on sheets 3404 and 3418 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes:

(i) the Government's decision to delay the commencement of the new Support at Home Program until 1 November 2025 while also withholding the release of any additional Home Care Packages,

(ii) the most recent government data shows more than 87,000 people waiting for a home care package, with some industry estimates expecting the waitlist to reach 100,000 by 1 November 2025, and

(iii) the Commonwealth Home Support Program is unlikely to be able to meet increased demand for support at home prior to 1 November 2025; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) release more Home Care Packages as a matter of urgency, and

(ii) work toward a high-quality, affordable aged care system that is universal and needs-based, characterised by quality support, nursing and personal care whether in home, residential care or hospital".

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that no person with disability under the age of 65 should remain living in residential aged care from 2025,

(ii) while the Government accepted this recommendation, this bill retains in the Aged Care Act 2024 a formalised pathway to place people under 65 in aged care, and

(iii) as of 31 March 2025, there are 959 people aged under 65 in residential aged care, this cohort includes disabled people who should not be in residential aged care and instead should be receiving NDIS supports to enable them to exit residential aged care; and

(b) calls on the Government to implement the recommendation of the Royal Commission and ensure no disabled person under the age of 65 remains in residential aged care".