The Gillard Government must act on aged care reform to correct the imbalance in the latest Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
The Shadow Minister for Ageing and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, said the under-subscription of residential care places and the huge number of applications for community care places showed the system was dysfunctional.
“Minister Butler is aware of the state of suspended animation but is sitting on the Productivity Commission’s Final Report, Caring for Older Australians,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said. “No one knows whether the Government is going to act on any of the 58 recommendations.
“The Minister admits that not enough beds are being built today for the increasing number of older Australians tomorrow.
“Beds will not be built if the sector is not viable. There is no certainty for the sector when the Government has commissioned so many reviews but does not act on them.
“More than 24,000 applications were made to the Department of Health and Ageing for the 1,698 community care places advertised.
“The ball is in the Government’s court. It is up to the Government to act.”