Support for aged care cabinet minister
Calls for a dedicated minister responsible for aged care have been welcomed by Trevor Carr, Leading Age Services Australia – Victoria (LASA Victoria) chief executive.
Trevor Carr, Leading Age Services Australia – Victoria (LASA Victoria) chief executive, has welcomed comments for a dedicated minister responsible for aged care.
The initial call came from Shadow Minister for Ageing, Shayne Neumann, yesterday who claims Australians deserve the attention and focus of an informed and dedicated Minister for Ageing.
Mr Carr agrees and appeals for all state and federal political parties to appoint, or commit to appointing, a senior cabinet Minister for Ageing.
“It is time that the hard work and taxes paid by those now requiring assistance to remain in their home or receive the properly funded care they deserve to be treated with respect,” Mr Carr says.
“A cabinet minister responsible for Australia’s ageing portfolio would ensure that providers, residents, their families and those who receive care in the home get the best possible outcome for their health, wellbeing and quality of life,” he adds.
According to Mr Carr, recent policy and funding decisions have had a detrimental effect on age care providers, residents and their families and those receiving care in the home.
“The need for such an appointment is paramount and clearly reflected in the demographic data in the 2015 Intergenerational Report,” he says.
“In the wake of Minister Neumann’s comments at a Health Services Union Branch Conference in Sydney, I am urging Prime Minister Tony Abbott to appoint a cabinet minister to address the significant challenges in aged care.”
Recent policy decisions include:
- The release of the latest fees and charges showing an indexation rise of just 1.3%. When ABS data shows costs for healthcare alone have risen by 4.4% in the past year;
- consecutive federal Budgets that have ripped $700 million from aged care providers while leaving the cost burden of care on the industry and our seniors;
- this year’s budget announcement to strip $40 million out of the Aged Care Workforce Development Fund;
- Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRTs) flying squads to assist aged care providers with dementia patients;
- removal of the payroll tax supplement with no industry consultation; and
- the recent government introduction of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) reforms without providing adequate transitional funding.
