The Morrison Government has handed down its last Budget before this year’s Federal Election in May – so what does it have in store for Australian seniors?
Aged care has received an extra $468.3 million to implement the reforms from the Royal Commission, bringing the total investment to $18.8 billion – this includes more home care packages, aged care worker training places and respite services, as well as linking residential aged care homes with community and on-site pharmacists.
Additionally, the new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) aged care funding model will include an additional $34.60 per bed, per day – though homes will have to meet targets for minutes of care provided to their residents; a star rating system will also be implemented, scoring homes out of five.
Aside from aged care funding, another big announcement was a $250 one-off payment for around six million Aussies, around half of whom are pensioners; older people will also benefit from halving the fuel excise, making it less painful to fill up at the pump.
According to Ian Yates AM, Chief Executive of COTA Australia, there are positives for older Aussies in the Budget – but more needs to be done in areas such as dental health, low- to middle-income self-funded retirees, and the cost of digital engagement.
“The Budget will help your hip pocket and provide more aged care funding. We will need to see more accountability from aged care providers about their spending of this extra money.
“This budget sets the scene for a Federal Election campaign over the coming weeks, with the hope of older Australians now pinned on election announcements for vital services like oral and dental health,” he said.
Labor will fight election on aged care
In its Budget reply, Labor has already pledged $2.5 billion for aged care over four years. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese last night laid out his party’s “five-point plan”, including 24/7 on-site registered nurses; bringing on new carers; higher food standards for aged care residents; more accountability for providers; and a substantial boost in wages for aged care workers.
“We know if we want to recruit and obtain more carers to look after a population that’s growing older we need to treat their vital and essential workforce with respect and reward it with better pay,” he said.
Aside from making aged care a front-and-centre election issue, the Opposition has also promised to support the Government’s other one-off payments and measures to help with cost of living.
Here’s hoping we see more for Aussie seniors from both major parties in the run-up to the May poll.
