At a hastily arranged press conference this afternoon (Wednesday 3 September), Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler and Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae bowed to mounting pressure, announcing the release of 20,000 additional Home Care Packages before 1 November to ensure the new Aged Care Act takes effect as planned.
The Government also confirmed another 20,000 Home Care Packages will be issued between November and December, with the remaining 43,000 (of the 83,000 promised for 2025-26) to be rolled out in the first half of 2026 – the timetable demanded by the Coalition, Greens and Independents.
The climbdown follows days of interrogation of Rae in the House of Representatives and a united push in the Senate to amend the Government’s legislation to force the release of 40,000 Packages by year’s end.
Last week, a Senate Inquiry revealed nearly 5,000 older Australians died in 2025-26 while waiting for their correct level of home care, and 121,596 people remain in limbo awaiting aged care assessments.
The announcement came after Independent Senator David Pocock's amendments requiring the immediate release of 20,000 Home Care Packages were approved in the Senate.
“I’m pleased to announce we’ve reached a position where we can support the position of Senator (Anne) Ruston in the Senate when it comes to a vote,” Butler said at the press conference. “We’ve been considering our position, and at the end of the day, the Bill needs to pass before the end of this week.”
Shadow Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston called the decision “a small victory” for the hundreds of thousands of older Australians waiting for support. “But there is much, much more work still to be done,” she added.
Peak body Ageing Australia welcomed the backflip. “We congratulate the Government on heeding our calls, with so many Australians waiting for care in their own homes,” the organisation said.
“Providers are ready to act immediately. As we heard recently, 98 per cent of members say they have the capacity to deliver more Packages right now. We also thank all sides of politics for championing this issue and pushing for action before 1 November.”
The Bills are expected to be passed in the Senate on Thursday (4 September) and then will return to the House of Representatives. The legislation can not be finalised until completion of the Senate Inquiry, which reports on 15 September.
