Senate Standing Committee Report into Residential and Community Aged Care
The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot welcomed the release of the Senate Report into Residential and Community Aged Care.
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29 April 2009
The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot welcomed the release today (April 29) of the Senate Report into Residential and Community Aged Care, saying the Australian Government will consider its recommendations and deliberations.
However, Mrs Elliot said she would not speculate on the upcoming Federal Budget.
“No Australian Government has invested more into aged and community care,” Mrs Elliot said.
Over the next four years, the Australian Government will inject more than $41 billion into aged and community care – with more than $29.5 billion into aged care homes alone.
“Australia has a world class aged care system with dedicated and devoted staff who work to provide quality care for our nation’s elderly. We will continue to support their hard work.”
The Rudd Labor Government is committed to continuing to work in partnership with older Australians, their families, staff, unions and providers to improve the quality of aged and community care in Australia.
“That is why, I am continuing to meet with aged care providers and their staff around the country. In fact, tomorrow (April 30), I will again meet with the Aged Care Industry Council – comprising the Aged and Community Services Australia and Aged Care Association Australia.
Mrs Elliot pointed to the April 21 testimony by Mr Andrew Stuart. First Assistant Secretary, the Department of Health and Ageing who summarised aged care’s unique financial situation. Mr Stuart said:
"But we believe, for a number of reasons, that aged care providers are relatively, although, of course, not completely, sheltered from the effects of the global financial crisis in comparison with other sectors. That is because the income stream in aged care is largely underwritten by the government - to the tune of about 70 per cent in residential care.
The resident contributions are underpinned by the aged pension and to the extent that older people are able to pay less as the government pays more, so there is no need for customers to stay away from aged care on the grounds of costs."
(Source: Senate – Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration – Residential and Community Aged Care in Australia. Tuesday April 21, 2009. Canberra.)
For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on 02 6277 7280
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