‘Broken’ sector can’t wait any longer
They say ‘good things come to those who wait’ – but Council on the Ageing Australia chief executive, Ian Yates, says let’s “get cracking” on aged care reform. “There’s no need to wait until the Budget. Let the Prime Minister announce now that reform will be in the Budget… everyone is ready – it’s time to act,” he says.
They say ‘good things come to those who wait’ – but Council on the Ageing Australia chief executive, Ian Yates, says let’s “get cracking” on aged care reform.
“There’s no need to wait until the Budget. Let the Prime Minister announce now that reform will be in the Budget… everyone is ready – it’s time to act,” he says.
As politicians returned to Canberra last week for federal parliament’s last session before the May Budget, Mr Yates, who says aged care has been on the “backburner” for too long, appeals for the government to “guarantee older Australians the aged care they deserve”.
“It’s an insult to the people who worked all their lives to build this country the rest of us enjoy today that implementation of aged care reforms is still not guaranteed,” he says.
Claiming both the government and opposition knows aged care reform “has to happen”, Mr Yates says both parties are still stalling seven months out from the government receiving the Productivity Commission’s report Caring for Older Australians.
“The problem is our aged care system was designed for an earlier time. It doesn’t meet people’s needs anymore. It’s more expensive than it needs to be. It’s complicated, complex and hard to access.
“It’s losing staff because they are underpaid and undervalued. Fundamentally, it’s broken,” he claims.
