Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. The Albanese Labor government came to government with a promise to reform and improve aged care in Australia. Since then, we've made important reforms and addressed 94 recommendations of the royal commission. These reforms include registered nurses on site 24/7, star ratings and mandatory care minutes. Why is the government so committed to reforming aged care, and how will the government's reforms support older Australians, their families and the workers who care for them?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bilyk for the question, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge Senator Bilyk's outstanding service in this chamber. We're so pleased and proud to work with her.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm coming back!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

We know you're coming back next year. I just thought I would acknowledge that and the work that you've done in aged care over your service in this chamber. It's work like yours that has helped shape the policy and priorities going forward. We did go to the election in 2022 promising to lift the standards of aged care in Australia, and I would acknowledge the work that Minister Butler and Minister Wells have done in implementing our policy commitments.

We are committed to continuing to reform aged care in Australia because older Australians deserve high-quality care. It's that simple. Since the tabling of the royal commission report in 2021, 94 of the 136 recommendations have been addressed by the Albanese government. There is now a registered nurse on site in aged care 99 per cent of the time across Australia. This is an incredible achievement and improves the quality of care for older Australians who live in residential aged care.

Under the Albanese government's reforms, older Australians are receiving an additional 3.9 million minutes of care every day. We know that one of the critical findings in the royal commission was that older Australians in residential aged care wanted additional support time and that that would improve the quality of care for them across the centre, so that has been delivered. The Aged Care Bill, passed by this chamber last week, is a landmark reform addressing 58 recommendations to the royal commission. We've done a lot, but there is more to do.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, first supplementary?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

A key part of the new Aged Care Act is the new Support at Home program. How will Support at Home help older Australians remain independent in their home and their community?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Bilyk, for the question. This is one of those areas where we know that older Australians, given the choice, would like to continue to age at home, with the support and care that they need, within the communities that they have lived in and that they love.

Our $4.3 billion investment in Support at Home will help around 1.4 million Australians remain independent in their home and in their community for longer. Support at Home will cut wait times to receive in-home aged-care services. It will deliver support that is more tailored, with eight levels of ongoing care instead of four. It will ensure faster access to assistive technology, like walkers and wheelchairs, and increase the maximum level of support available from $61,000 to $78,000.

It's not an understatement to say that these reforms will change lives, including being able to provide palliative care support to ensure older Australians can spend their final weeks at home, and we are very proud of this reform.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, second supplementary?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for those answers, Minister. Aged-care workers across the country ensure that the lives of older Australians in care are safe, healthy and fulfilling. Why did the Albanese Labor government decide to increase the wages of aged-care workers, and what impact will this have on their lives?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bilyk. I again acknowledge the work of Senator Bilyk in advocating for increased wages for the lowest paid workers in this country.

In 2023 we invested $11.3 billion to deliver a historic increase to the award wage for 250,000 workers. This had been a campaign that had been building from those workers themselves, through their union and into this parliament. We know the change that this has brought about. Not only are those workers getting better wages, fairer wages and having their work respected; we're now seeing that there's an increase in retaining workers and attracting workers to that sector. I have no doubt we'll see similar change when early childhood educators get their wage increase on 1 December. Registered nurses are now taking home an additional $196 a week, or more than $10,000 a year, and personal care workers are now taking home an additional $141 a week. (Time expired)