The aged care sector's peak bodies have been intensely lobbying the Australian Government and its Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to explain it was not fit and proper for implementation.
“This decision is the result of months of intense discussions and calls for practical timelines for the sector. We know that rushed reforms would put levels of care at risk for older people,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“We applaud the Government for listening to the concerns of the aged care sector and putting the needs of older Australians first.”
Tom said the peak body supports the new Aged Care Act, but "the simple truth is we’re not ready to introduce all the sweeping reforms by 1 July. Providers have been working around the clock to ensure a smooth transition, but we just haven’t received all the information we need in order to proceed.”
Catholic Health Australia, which represents more than 350 aged care facilities and 20 per cent of home care providers, welcomed the delay.
“We strongly support the reforms enacted in the Aged Care Act but this delay is needed to ensure a smooth transition that avoids unintended negative consequences,” said CEO Jason Kara.
“Reform of this magnitude and importance should not be rushed. We welcome this announcement today and thank the government, Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler MP, and the new Aged Care Minister Sam Rae MP and for their constructive engagement.”
"Commonwealth has made right decision"
Retirement Living Council (RLC) Executive Director Daniel Gannon said the Commonwealth has made the right decision to delay the Aged Care Act.
“The RLC publicly called for this delay, some stakeholders even derided these calls, yet we extend our thanks and appreciation to the Commonwealth for listening and understanding. The consequences of pushing ahead with an impossible deadline could have been irreversible, with serious threats to the short-term viability of the sector," he said..
“Nobody disputes that our country is in desperate need of a new Aged Care Act, especially as Australia grows older and greyer. However, the new system must be handled with care and delivered properly. This delay means operators now have additional breathing space to ensure systems are ready to go.
“Pain points around pricing can now be appropriately addressed, while proper guidelines for contract charges, cancellation costs, and travel expenses can be set in stone, so there is no confusion.
“Without this delay, it would have been impossible for operators to establish accurate pricing, and clients would have been denied the opportunity to shop around to find the best and most cost-effective packages for them."
OPAN 'reluctantly' supports announcement
The Older Persons Advocacy Network reluctantly supported today’s announcement of a four-month delay to the commencement of the new rights-based Aged Care Act. Overall, it is the right decision for older people.
“Until now, OPAN has been steadfast in its call for the Act to be implemented, as promised, on 1 July 2025, because older people can’t get the aged care they need without it,” OPAN CEO Craig Gear OAM said.
“However, over the past weeks, it has become increasingly apparent that, while the macro design of the reform is solid, older people don’t have the necessary information to make informed choices at an individual level, particularly around the new Support at Home program.
“We are also concerned that the appropriate systems aren’t yet in place to ensure continuity of care and services for older people during the transition."