The Gillard Labor Government has lived up to its reputation of tardiness, announcing the latest Aged Care Approvals Round two months later than expected and 18 months since the previous announcement.
Almost four in five applications were unsuccessful, said Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Shadow Minister for Ageing.
“The Government approved 12,272 new aged care places so at least it stuck to its announcement of 22 January 2010,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.
“In previous years ACAR funding was announced annually but under this Labor Government the funding timetable has been stretched to 18 months, for no apparent reason. The 2008-09 round was announced on 30 June 2009. Advertisements for applications were placed in January 2010 and applications closed on 15 March. The Department of Health and Ageing revealed at Budget Estimates in June that there were about 57,000 applications for places.
“On 20 October the Department assured the Senate Community Affairs Committee that it anticipated being able to announce the round by the end of October as “caretaker makes no difference”.
“The Gillard-Roxon health regime has shown its utter contempt for the aged care sector by having this unexplained delay.
“No one is surprised. Labor virtually ignored aged care in its election commitments with the excuse that the Productivity Commission is conducting the Caring for Older Australians inquiry. But this report has been delayed with a draft not due until January and the final report pushed back until June, missing the next Budget round.”