Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles has told ABC’s Insiders program that “fixing aged care really matters”, and firmly committed to Labor’s election pledges including 24/7 nursing by mid-2023.
On Sunday’s program, the Deputy Labor Leader reaffirmed that, despite comments by Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus suggesting it may not be possible, Labor was committed to its policy of 24/7 registered nurses in RAC homes around the country by mid-2023.
“We’ll be delivering registered nurses in every aged care facility in the middle of next year. We’ve been really clear about the fact that that is what will happen.
“We’re doing it a year ahead of the recommendation of the timing in the Royal Commission,” he said, pointing to the skills, services and leadership RNs could provide as being vital for aged care.
Mr Marles also pointed to Labor’s support for an aged care worker wage increase as a means of alleviating staff shortages.
“We need to make sure we do get a wage increase there, both in terms of maintaining retention within aged care, but also attracting people.
“There is an opportunity to get people into aged care, and keep people working there, if we’re paying them properly,” he said.
Labor has promised to support the outcome of the Fair Work Commission’s hearing into aged care worker pay, which StewartBrown Partner Grant Corderoy said could cost $18 billion over four years when combined with Labor’s other aged care policies.
