Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Minister, how many older Australians are currently on the national priority system waiting for a home-care package they have been assessed as needing?

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

Thank you, Senator Blyth, for the question. I acknowledge the chamber's genuine interest over some time in ensuring that older Australians and older people in our community get safe, dignified and high-quality aged care. That why in the last term of parliament our government, and in particular the now Minister for Communications, did so much work in this area collaboratively across the chamber, passing the new Aged Care Act with support from the opposition. This should be above politics.

Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order. The question was very tight. We're just looking for a number here.

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

The question went to the priority list for home-care packages, and it asked for a number. The minister is being relevant to the question. Minister McAllister, please continue.

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

Home-care packages have hit a record high: 306,000 home-care packages. They have helped cut average waiting times ahead of that transition to the new Support at Home program, which, as you know, starts on 1 November.

I'll take that interjection, Senator Ruston. In March 2019 those waiting times peaked at around three years—three years waiting time in 2019 for a level 4 medium-priority home-care package. That's right.

A government senator: Who was the health minister?

Who was the health minister—great question. We are quite aware that there is more work to do, and that's why the reforms that have been passed through this place are so significant and why our investments are so significant. We are looking forward to the circumstance where we can roll out more home-care packages to make sure that people are getting the support that they require, because everybody—all Australians—deserves dignity in their older years.

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

Senator Blyth, first supplementary?

Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 2022 the now health minister called the home-care waiting list a national disgrace, but since 2022 the home-care waiting list has more than doubled under your watch. Eighty-seven thousand Australians are now waiting for the care they have been assessed as needing. If the waiting list was a national disgrace three years ago, what words describe Labor's waiting list today?

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

We, indeed, are very proud of the work that we are putting in, of the work that has been undertaken to resolve—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! Senator Gallagher and Senator Watt! Senator Polley! I'm not going to go around the chamber calling disorderly senators back to order. I called order. I don't want to hear the level of shouting that we heard from the opposition the minute the minister stood.

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

Last financial year, the government invested over $8 billion in the Home Care Packages Program. That compares to just $1 billion 10 years ago. Of course, we need to continue to invest in this sector because our population is ageing, and more and more baby boomers are entering that time—

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

Senator Ruston, stop the running commentary. Minister McAllister, please continue.

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

As I was saying, this is an area that requires significant investment, and we are making those investments—significantly more money, significantly more packages and significantly more people able to access the care that is being provided as a consequence of our investments. And there is more to come. On 1 November, when the new arrangements kick in, we are looking forward to seeing further improvements. (Time expired)

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

Senator Blyth, second supplementary?

Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, considering the waitlist has more than doubled since 2022, why have you withheld the 83,000 additional home-care packages you promised before the election?

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

The new Aged Care Act will commence on 1 November 2025, and, with it, our new program will start—the Support at Home program. From now until that new act commences, we will continue releasing home-care packages each and every week to people assessed as needing in-home care. There will be a continuing high demand for these packages because our population is ageing—

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

Minister McAllister, please resume your seat. I'm really sorry I've had to interrupt you so often. Senator Ruston, I asked you to stop the running commentary. I've called you to account more than anyone else. If you can't listen in silence, I invite to you leave the chamber.

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

It is important to note that people who are assessed as high priority and who need urgent access to home care continue to receive that home-care package within a month and people who are waiting for packages at assessed levels are able to access the Commonwealth Home Support Program. But the truth is that, on 1 November, we will have a new program, and it is a really important step forward, one that the government is proud of and one that we hope the whole parliament can be proud of. It was a bipartisan effort to bring these reforms forward. They were badly needed after a decade of neglect. (Time expired)