David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Senator McAllister. Minister, I've been approached by a family in Canberra who are desperately seeking a place in residential care for their father. He's in his 80s and is living with dementia. His wife, also in her 80s, is struggling to care for him. She herself is living with MS and is no longer strong enough to help him dress or shower. They have now approached every single aged-care facility here in the ACT and they've all turned this man down—every single one. He was briefly given a place, but after one night was asked to move out. His dementia is apparently too troublesome for aged-care facilities. Minister, what can be done for this family or any family in this situation?

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

I thank Senator Pocock for the question. Senator, I think from the way that you phrased your question you understand that I wouldn't seek to provide a direct response to the circumstances you describe for this individual family for a number of reasons. I don't have all of the information about all that's transpired and I also wouldn't discuss a person's circumstances in a public forum.

But I can tell you that the government understands very clearly the need to reform the aged-care system because of the increasing demands on that system. It's why we have stepped through the reform process that we have in a bipartisan way with those opposite. As you know, the new act came into force on 1 November. It includes a range of provisions. Most important amongst those are the measures that are designed to make sure that the aged-care system can operate sustainably. That's because of the demand we expect from people who wish to age in place, at home, but also to make sure that the funding arrangements for residential aged care are such that we can see continued investment and allow that sector to expand in the way that we know it needs to expand.

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

Senator Pocock, first supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, under the new rights based act, will residential aged-care facilities have to take someone like this who can't find anywhere to go?

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

As I indicated in my answer to Senator Pocock's primary question, I'm really not in a position to provide specific advice about a specific person in this forum. But I would invite the senator to reach out to Minister Rae. I think he's been very clear on many occasions that he is very happy to hear from parliamentarians who have examples of people who are finding it difficult in the community. He would be pleased to hear from the senator in relation to this matter also.

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

Senator Pocock, second supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think there are many like that gentleman in the community and I was asking more broadly. I understand you won't comment on a specific case, but it was meant to be a bit more general. It's also been reported today that the inspector-general believes more First Nations people will be pushed into residential homes because they can't afford services like a shower through the Support at Home system. Minister, does the government share the concerns that including compensation for stolen generations in means testing will make it more difficult for First Nations people to remain at home and age with dignity?

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

I thank Senator Pocock for that question. The government is very focused on ensuring that First Nations elders get the safe and culturally appropriate care that they deserve. For Support at Home, the means testing is reliant on the broader social security means testing that uses the definitions under social security law. I'm aware of the article that you're citing, I think. Minister Rae has indicated that he takes those concerns seriously and that he will be considering the effects of all co-contributions on First Nations Australians in aged care. More broadly, the point the government would make is that every First Nations elder deserves access to aged care that's culturally sensitive and that suits their needs, and we are determined to make sure that our historic investment in aged care delivers that.