South Australian Senator Anne Ruston, who was instrumental in achieving bipartisan support for the new Aged Care Act last year, has retained her Health, Aged Care and Sport portfolios in Sussan Ley's new Shadow Cabinet, while also taking on the additional responsibilities of Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate will be helped in her role by Shadow Assistant Ministers for Mental Health, Zoe McKenzie, Regional Health Sam Birrell and the NDIS, Phillip Thompson, but there will be no Shadow Assistant Minister for Aged Care.
In a statement, Anne made little mention of aged care, despite her close consultation with the sector including during Senate hearings on the new Aged Care Act and in developing the aged care reforms, and regardless of the challenges the sector is facing implementing once-in-a-generation changes while still waiting on key details from the Government.
"I have been incredibly grateful for the opportunity over the last three years to work closely with the incredible stakeholders and advocates in the health, aged care and sport sectors, and to hold the Albanese Labor Government to account on these important areas of social policy," she said.
"Australia’s care systems are world-leading, but there is no doubt that they face significant and unaddressed challenges.
"I have long said that we need to address the challenges facing Australia’s entire care sector with a comprehensive, cohesive and collaborative approach."
Last week, Anne appeared on the ABC's Insiders and was not asked about aged care, despite the reform implementation challenges the sector is facing.
