The Aged Care Minister's office has sought an extension on the request last week in the Senate from Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne for the release of all communication between the Department and the Minister's office about aged care assessment wait times and the financial impact on consumers of the incoming reforms.
The deadline for the request was 6 August 2025, yesterday. While the deadline has been missed, the Government has said it will comply with the request.
Senator Penny Allman-Payne, who is the Greens' spokesperson for Older People and is chairing the Aged Care Service Delivery Senate Inquiry, told The Weekly SOURCE the Greens are "deeply concerned" about the financial impact of the reforms on older people, and excessive wait times to receive care.
"That’s why the Greens are using all the tools we’ve got to urgently call for action on this system, and I’ll be chairing a Senate inquiry into Labor’s aged care system to push for change now.
“The Greens are deeply concerned about the impacts of Labor’s new aged care system, which we’re hearing from families and advocates is already making access and affordability of care worse for people entering care now.
“Right now, our older people can be stuck waiting 18 months on the waitlist for a home care package, and if you’re still in need of an ACAT assessment the wait time before you can hope to receive care is even longer.
“The Government’s own analysis shows that costs will go up for 30% of full pensioners and 75% of part-pensioners from November. We don’t think that’s right - and Labor needs to answer just how much more pensioners can be expected to pay.
“We’re also very concerned that Labor’s changes will mean wealthier homeowners may soon be worth twice as much in revenue to an aged care facility as an older person who lives week to week - meaning older renters and pensioners may miss out on residential care, and be cruelly left to age and die without the care they need.
“If you’re in need of care, you don’t have time to wait.”
