JOHANNA NICHOLSON, HOST: Now, as we have been reporting this morning, sweeping reforms to the aged care sector come into effect from today. Let's get more on this. We are joined by the Aged Care Minister Sam Rae in Ballan in Victoria. Good morning to you, Minister. Thanks for your time. These are fundamental changes to the aged care system that are coming into effect today. The reforms are designed to strengthen the rights of older Australians and there is a no worse off guarantee. Are you confident that no older Australian will be worse off under these reforms?
SAM RAE, MINISTER FOR AGED CARE AND SENIORS: Today is a very important day for older people and their families and all of the people who work across the aged care sector. It's not the beginning of these ambitious reforms and it's not the end of the reforms. But today marks the beginning of the new Aged Care Act, the first wholly rebuilt act since 1997. And with it comes that Statement of Rights that underpins the rights of older people to access safe, dignified and high-quality aged care and that's what the Government is absolutely focused on delivering.
NICHOLSON: As I said though, there are concerns and in place is this no worse off guarantee. Let's look at the changes to payments, for example. Clinical care, like nursing and physiotherapy, will be fully covered, but there will be means-tested fees for non-clinical care, things like showering, dressing or transport. And there are concerns that some, particularly full pensioners, will not be able to afford those co-contributions. Is that a concern of yours, that they will miss out on things like showers, for example?
RAE: The co-contributions model that you refer to is specific to our new Support at Home program as distinct from residential care. And Support at Home is designed to ensure that older people who want to stay in their homes and their communities can do so for as long as possible with the appropriate care in place. As you know, the federal Government will continue to pay 100 per cent of the clinical care costs. But in order to have a sustainable system that every older person can get access to, we need to introduce this co-contributions model where, for those people who have the means to make a contribution to some of their care, they'll be asked to do so. And for some of those independence type categories, the non-clinical independence type care categories that you refer to there, a full pensioner will be asked to make a 5 per cent co-contribution to the cost of some of those things.
Now, I should be clear though, anyone who was in the system or on the National Priority System before September 2024 will have their arrangements grandparented, so they won't be subjected to these evolving co-contribution arrangements, and there are very strict and robust processes in place to protect people who aren't able to pay. If people aren't able to make a co-contribution, then they can apply for the hardship program and we'll make sure that there is no interruption to the continuity of their care.
NICHOLSON: Minister, we have an ageing population and that presents some really unique challenges for the years ahead. Do you feel confident that this reform will be fit for purpose for those challenges that we're facing?
RAE: You're right, we do have an ageing population and a rapidly ageing population. In fact, we've seen demand for in-home care services more than double in the last five years alone. And we have many more people from the baby boomer generation starting to think about entering residential aged care as well. These changes, as I said, they're not the beginning of reform and they're not the end of reform, but they set up our aged care sector and the regulatory system that governs it so that we can respond to these critical challenges. Ultimately, we want to make sure that every older person in our country can access safe, dignified and high-quality aged care and this is what these changes are all about.
NICHOLSON: These are people's lives we're talking about and also the lives of their loved ones. What's being done to make sure people are across these changes and not feeling anxious about what's to come?
RAE: These are complex changes. It's a complex system. I acknowledge that. Part of this process has been trying to reduce some of that complexity. And I think as human beings, whenever we're undergoing significant change in our lives there is always an element of anxiety. Communication has been a critical component of this process. The aged care changes were announced in September 2024 and the legislation was moved through the last term of Parliament. In recent times we've sent out more than 600,000 personalised letters to older people all across the country to help them to understand what these changes mean for them personally. We've also held more than 50 public forums in every state and territory. We've had more than half a million visits to the website. So, there is a strong element of people's awareness here. We're working with providers and the sector to make sure that everybody understands, older people themselves, their families, their support networks, understand what these changes mean for them.
NICHOLSON: I just want to finally touch on our top story this morning, Minister, as well, and that's the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Paul Brereton, has decided to step away from all defence investigations. Now, there has been this mounting pressure for him to address concerns about military ties and handling of perceived conflicts of interest. I'd just like you to comment on that story this morning.
RAE: Well, there are strict arrangements in place for all public officials to disclose any possible conflicts of interest. They apply to me as they apply to any public official. There is an absolute and unwavering expectation that that be done. And certainly, as it pertains to the people that I work with, that is strictly adhered to. I think beyond that, the NACC needs to get on with its important work. I'm sure the Commissioner will continue to lead it in order to do so.
NICHOLSON: All right, Aged Care Minister Sam Rae, we really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.
RAE: Thank you very much.