‘Incredibly rare’ bipartisan deal struck on major aged care reforms
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The news: Labor’s aged care reforms will become law after making major concessions in a deal with the Coalition.
The context: The deal will mean wealthier people pay more for the cost of their care, over fears the sector would be financially unsustainable as Australia’s population ages.
The package centres on a $4.3 billion investment in support at home, allowing people to remain out of aged care settings for longer. That will come into effect midway through next year.
It also includes stronger powers to investigate maltreatment in aged care with civil penalties for those in breach, and funding for better quality facilities.
The Commonwealth will fund “clinical care” services entirely, with individual contributions going towards “independence and everyday living costs”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the Coalition’s engagement as “constructive”, while Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said a “bipartisan accord on something so important” was “incredibly rare”.
The numbers: The government said the measures will cost $12.6 billion over the next eleven years, with 1.4 million Australians to benefit by 2035.
What they said: “Reforms like this don’t happen everyday, they are once in a generation, and this is very significant,” Albanese said.
The source: Anthony Albanese press conference
