Media speculation around the delayed release of the Aged Care Taskforce’s Final Report misses the point: Australia can’t afford to let its recommendations be left on the shelf.
With the original deadline for the release of the Taskforce’s recommendations now well past, scrutiny around the release of the Report is heating up.
Earlier this week, Sky News presenter Paul Murray sensationally claimed that the Report was being delayed because of the Dunkley by-election on 2 March to save Labor's votes.
As we report in this issue, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Anne Ruston, has criticised the Government for being “secretive” about the outcomes of the Report.
With the Report likely to recommend a range of measures – including Plan B, or increased consumer contributions in aged care – this should be a major concern for aged care providers.
Should the Opposition drop its bipartisan commitment to the Taskforce recommendations and look to weaponise it, this could threaten the future funding model.
The sector – and Australia as a whole – cannot afford for this to happen.
Just 4,000 aged care beds in four years
Despite the Government’s official figures showing an improvement in the financial performance of residential care providers since the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), the reality is that many providers are still doing it tough.
The majority of residential care operators – even those making a profit – have hit pause on new aged care beds given their $400,000 a bed price tag.
With just 4,000 new beds built over the past four years and the number of Australians aged 85-plus expected to jump by 100,000 by 2030, the country is staring down the barrel of an aged care crisis.
Without more beds, older Australians will be forced to leave their communities to find suitable care – or have their families fill the gap. Those without a support network will just fall through the cracks.
Is this really the future that we want?
There needs to be a sensible discussion about what is fair and equitable for all Australians – not fearmongering.