LNP’s funding promise to boost aged care in Clermont

A small Central Qld mining town will see $1.5m in funding for a crucial aged care project if the LNP wins May’s federal election.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said the situation in which Clermont’s elderly have to move town for care isn’t good enough.

The town of Clermont will see $1.5 million in funding to their aged care sector if the LNP wins next month’s federal election.

The money will go to support Stage 1 of the Clermont Senior Living Project, which has thrilled Belyando Enterprise Network Inc chair John Burnett who said attracting funding had been a long time coming.

The Network, which is made up entirely of local volunteers, has been instrumental in pushing for funding to support the Clermont Senior Living Project which would see upgrades to the existing Monash Lodge 20-bed aged care facility, as well as creating 12 independent living units with 24-hour onsite management.

“We’ve been working on this for five years, trying to get funding support from Government sources,” Mr Burnett said.

An initial grant request made to the Federal Government was knocked back after 13 months in limbo.

The pledge for $1.5m in funding, on the condition the LNP wins next month’s Federal Election, will allow Stage 1 of the Project to reach the “shovel-ready” stage.

Mr Burnett estimates that a further $14-$15 million will be required to see out the project in full, which he hopes will plug a gap in the aged care system in Clermont.

“Our community in Clermont is an ageing community,” he said.

“We’ve got the need for 50 senior citizen beds in the community. Presently we’ve got high care but there is nothing between living in your family home and high care when you get to the nursing care stage.

“That’s the gap in our senior living care that is missing and that’s why we’re trying to fund that section.

“We see this (the funding promise) as a new opportunity and a new hope. If there is a change in government, we’ll finally get this project off the ground.”

With Clermont’s population comprising more than 25 per cent who are over the age of 60, Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said the need to invest in aged care in the region was urgent.

“Right now, our seniors are being forced to leave the community they built,” she said.

“To leave their homes and their families just to access basic aged care. That’s not good enough.”

The Federal Member for Capricornia has been busy in the lead up to the election and has accused the Federal Government and the Labor Capricornia candidate, Emily Mawson, of failing to commit a single cent in new funding for the region.

“Labor is all talk and photo ops, but when it comes to delivering for regional communities like Capricornia, they go missing every single time,” Ms Landry said.

“While I’ve already announced over $32 million in funding commitments for Capricornia, Labor has offered absolutely nothing. Not a dollar. Not a project. Not a plan.”

Ms Landry said her funding commitments target key community priorities and economic growth across the region.

“This includes major upgrades to Rockhampton Airport to drive economic diversification, vital support for local sporting clubs, upgrades to the Yeppoon RSL and Yeppoon Town Centre to support our CBD, and essential improvements to the Nebo Showgrounds, Gracemere Saleyards, and Collinsville beautification project, with more to come.”

However, Ms Mawson hit back, saying Labor has made commitments that help everyone in Central Queensland, such as more tax cuts, more energy bill relief, cheaper medicines, more bulk billing and expanded free mental health services.

“She (Michelle Landry) voted against more local manufacturing, voted against same job same pay and voted to cut penalty rates,” she said.

“The LNP have already committed to billions in cuts, including cutting free TAFE, sacking frontline workers, and cuts to energy bill relief.”

Originally published as LNP’s funding promise to boost aged care in Clermont