Opposition claims Labor is keeping older Aussies in the dark over aged care funding

Labor is stalling the release of a long-awaited report into aged care funding until after the Dunkley by-election, the Federal Opposition claims.

The report release delay, coupled with speculation about potential recommendations may have caused unnecessary distress to some older Australians, it’s claimed.

A stoush has erupted over the release of a highly anticipated report into aged care funding, with the Opposition accusing Labor of keeping older Australians in the dark until after the Dunkley by-election.

The Aged Care Taskforce handed its final report, which includes a series of recommendations to address operating cost woes as well as support service quality, to the government in December.

Increasing payments for those that can afford to pay more is expected to be among options proposed by the group of experts, following months of talks with industry, health professions, the community, banks and superannuation funds.

Pressure is mounting on the government to release the report ahead of the March 2 poll, with Opposition health spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston saying the government’s refusal was creating “serious stress and uncertainty” for the aged care sector.

Senator Anne Ruston. Picture: Martin Ollman

“The ongoing financing of aged care in our country is a critical conversation that must be had openly and transparently with older Australians, their families and the aged care sector,” Senator Ruston said.

“Clearly, the Minister is refusing to release the report in the midst of the Dunkley by-election, which can only mean she has something to hide from the Australian public.

“Labor is placing politics over people and it is not good enough.”

But a government spokesman said it was considering the report and would “release it at an appropriate time”.

“This is a significant issue for aged care and we’re giving the report the time and attention it deserves,” he said.

“We need to agree on how to make aged care funding simple, equitable and sustainable into the future – this was the job of the Taskforce.

“We are not going to rush our response.”

Aged Care Industry Association CEO Peter Hoppo said the delay, coupled with speculation about potential recommendations, had been unhelpful and may have caused unnecessary distress to some.

Mr Hoppo said the release of the report would enable a conversation about the future of aged care funding but it now had “no clear understanding of what is happening”.

“If the government intends to ask individuals to contribute more towards the cost of their care, we will certainly support this, provided it is done in a fair and equitable manner,” he said.

“We must see a substantial increase in aged care funding in the May budget, regardless of when the report is released.”

At least one in 10 people in Dunkley, or almost 20,000 voters, are aged over 70 years.

There are 15 residential aged care facilities with a total of 1500 beds in the electorate, which is held by Labor on a margin of 6.3 per cent.

The taskforce’s remit included reviewing funding arrangements, developing options for a fair and equitable system, built on recommendations from the Aged Care Royal Commission, as well as innovation opportunities.