Australian Senate votes for two separate inquiries into aged care reform

The Australian Government's Senate has voted to establish two new inquiries into the Government's historic aged care reforms, rolled out on the weekend after years of preparation and delays.

The first inquiry will look into the transition of the Community Home Support Program (CHSP) to Support at Home. The second will investigate the ability of older Australians to access care under Support at Home, including the impact of new pricing mechanisms.

The Greens moved the motion in the Senate, and both inquiries will be chaired by Greens Spokesperson for Older People, QLD Senator Penny Allman-Payne. Both inquiries were recommendations of the recent Aged Care Service Delivery Senate inquiry, which Senator Allman-Payne also chaired. 

“Labor’s Minister for Aged Care, Sam Rae, has tried to hide the truth of these aged care changes, but now the reality is setting in and older Australians are waking up to new care arrangements they cannot afford," said the Senator.

“Older Australians are still dying waiting a year or more for care, and rather than boost needed supports like the CHSP, they’re planning to close them.”

The CHSP transition inquiry will investigate:

1. the timeline for the transition
2. the expected impact of the transition, including on
   1. waiting periods for assessment and receipt of care
   2. the lifetime cap of $15,000 on home modifications;
   3. the End-of-Life Pathway time limits; and
   4. thin markets with a small number of aged care service providers. 
3. aged care provider readiness for the transition, including workforce; and
4. any other related matters.

 It will report by 15 April 2026 – five months away.

The inquiry into accessing Support at Home will look into:

1. the ability for older Australians to access services to live safely and with dignity at home;
2. the impact of the co-payment contributions for independent services and everyday living services on the financial security and wellbeing of older Australians;
3. trends and impact of pricing mechanisms on consumers;
4. the adequacy of the financial hardship assistance for older Australians facing financial difficulty; 
5. the impact on the residential aged care system, and hospitals;
6. the impact on older Australians transitioning from the Home Care Packages Program;
7. thin markets including those affected by geographic remoteness and population size;
8. the impact on First Nations communities, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities; and
9. any other related matters.

This inquiry will report by the Tuesday of the last sitting week of November 2026 – over 12 months from now.