Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care
2:49 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care, Senator Nash. A national prioritisation list for the Home Care Packages Program was introduced in February, but vulnerable older Australians are still in the dark about where they are in the queue and how long they will have to wait to receive a package. Minister Ken Wyatt first promised to release the wait-time data in July and, following that failure, recommitted to do so by the end of August. Given it is now the second week in September, when will the Turnbull government finally release this information?
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
2:50 pm
Given the detail of the question, I will take that on notice for the senator.
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care
I'm surprised that the government hasn't been able to give a proper briefing to the minister. How many older Australians are waiting for each level of the aged care home care packages?
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Again, I'm happy to provide that for the senator on notice.
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care
Vulnerable older people are being forced out of their own homes and into residential care and hospitals and, in more dire cases, are passing away while they are still waiting for support from the Turnbull government. Why is the Turnbull government failing to act to support older Australians?
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
2:51 pm
I would reject the assertion that people are passing away waiting for assistance from the Turnbull government.
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care
Yes. The point of order is: if the minister was unable and failed to answer my original question and the second—
Stephen Parry President
No; the minister was answering the question, Senator Polley. What is your point of order?
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care
how can she assert that she takes exception to the fact that people are dying waiting for this government to give them the support they need?
Stephen Parry President
Order. Senator Polley, that was exactly what your question was to the minister and the minister was answering your question. So there is no point of order and the minister is in order.
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Thank you very much, Mr President. I rejected that and I will take the rest of the question on notice.