COALITION HAS SECURED CRITICAL HOME CARE SUPPORT FOR BARKER

COALITION HAS SECURED CRITICAL HOME CARE SUPPORT FOR BARKER

The Coalition has forced the Albanese Labor Government to belatedly release tens of thousands of home care packages that are desperately-needed by older Australians living in Barker.

Labor promised 83,000 new packages from 1 July 2025, but instead decided to withhold support – despite the sector and the Department being ready to deliver them.

As a result, the home care waitlist has blown out by almost 400 per cent in just two years, whilst wait times have tripled. Tragically, almost 5,000 older Australians died in the past year while waiting for care.

This was an unacceptable situation.

Thanks to a coordinated pressure campaign from the Coalition, the Government has now caved to pressure and supported our amendments in the Parliament to guarantee the release of 83,000 new home care packages this financial year.

This includes the release of an immediate 20,000 new home care packages, and at least a further 20,000 packages by the end of the year.

This is a win for older Australians living in Barker who are in desperate need of support to stay living independent in their own homes.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the Coalition has stood up for older Australians across the country, who the Albanese Government had abandoned.

“This situation should never have happened. The money was in the Budget. The capacity was there. Only Labor stood in the way,” Senator Ruston said.

“It is a black mark on this Government that they were purposely withholding support from hundreds of thousands of older Australians who desperately need it. Quite frankly, people were dying while they waited.

“This is a crisis of the Government’s own making. We are proud to have forced the Government into guaranteeing an additional 83,000 packages this financial year, but there is still more work to be done.”

Federal Member for Barker Mr Tony Pasin confirmed he had spoken to many older Australians and their families in Barker who were enduring lengthy wait times for the care they had been assessed as needing.  “This is completely unacceptable and older Australians simply cannot continue to languish on wait lists or not be able to access the services they require” Mr Pasin said.

“I will continue to fight to ensure that the needs of older members of communities throughout Barker are met. Older Australians who choose to age at home must have access to the care and support they need” Mr Pasin said.

The Coalition will continue to fight for older Australians, with one clear goal: no one should have to wait for the care they have been assessed as needing.