Australia needs a dedicated Minister for Ageing
Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) has congratulated Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition on winning the 2016 Federal Election, but calls on the Coalition Government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Ageing.
LASA CEO Sean Rooney says aged care is a vital issue that deserves a Minister for Ageing in the new Government.
The peak body also urges the Government to work cooperatively with the aged care industry, minor parties and independents, to properly plan for and fund aged care services to meet growing demand.
LASA chief executive officer Sean Rooney welcomes the opportunity to continue working with the Turnbull Government to ensure funding for accessible, affordable, quality, aged care services is delivered through a viable and sustainable aged care industry.
Mr Rooney says that in the 2016 Federal Election several candidates and political parties put forward a range of positive aged care policy commitments.
These included The Greens, Xenophon Team and Independents calling on the Government to reverse recent aged care funding cuts, assess the true cost of service delivery, re-instate lapsed workforce development initiatives, and re-instate the payroll tax supplement.
“We call on Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull to work cooperatively with the aged care industry and the newly elected minor parties, independents and crossbenchers who have committed to addressing critical aged care issues,” Mr Rooney says.
“The recent $1.8billion cuts to the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) are cuts to direct care services, such as medication assistance, pain relieving treatments, and other care interventions being delivered to frail, older Australians with complex care needs.
“A review of ACFI is long overdue, considering demand for aged care services is growing and providers of care have faced ongoing funding cuts of $3.1 billion since 2014 – while the cost of delivering services has increased significantly,” he continues.
“At the end of the day, it is not a crime to grow old in the country, so why are elderly Australians, their families, and aged care providers being punished?”
Mr Rooney says aged care is a vital issue for some 3.6 million Australians aged 65 and over. In 10 years, this number is projected to increase to almost 5 million, an increase of 37 percent.
“There is no doubt that appropriate funding and delivery of aged care services is a vital issue for the community, older Australians and their families, now and into the future. These issues deserve the attention and focus of an informed and dedicated Minister for Ageing,” he says.
“We call on Prime Minister Turnbull to acknowledge this and appoint a Minister for Ageing to his new Cabinet.”
