The Senate Inquiry into Aged Care Service Delivery has been granted a two-week extension, with its final report now due on 1 October 2025 – just a month before the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program begin.
Inquiry Chair, ACT Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, wrote to Senate President Sue Lines confirming the extension, citing the need for more time to assess 139 submissions. The Inquiry was originally due to report by 15 September.
The inquiry was initiated by Independent Senator David Pocock with the backing of Greens, Independent and Liberal Senators. It is examining the Government’s decision to delay new Home Care Packages, the capacity of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to meet demand, and the rollout of the Single Assessment System (SAS).
At a Canberra hearing on 28 August, evidence revealed 5,000 older Australians died waiting for the correct level of Home Care Package and 120,000 were waiting to be assessed. Witnesses shared distressing first-hand accounts of seniors suffering as they waited for services.
Following Senate amendments from Senator Pocock and Liberal Senator Anne Ruston, the Government was forced to reverse its decision and commit to releasing 20,000 Home Care Packages before 1 November, with another 20,000 by the end of the year.
