Anthony Albanese’s five-point plan on aged care is missing a sector-wide workforce strategy

Anthony Albanese’s bid to tackle the aged care “crisis” feels decidedly thin.

Anthony Albanese has had more than a year since the aged care royal commission handed down its final report to explain how a Labor government would fix the problem-plagued sector.

The Labor leader’s resulting five-point plan, unveiled in his budget reply speech on Thursday night, feels decidedly thin to tackle what he rightly calls the “crisis in aged care”.

Albanese’s announcement had taken so long to emerge that the aged care workers union last week publicly contemplated campaigning against the opposition during the upcoming federal election if Labor didn’t come through for their members.

It’s hard to see how they will be happy with Albanese’s commitment to support a pay rise for staff — without actually nominating a figure he believes is deserved.

Anthony Albanese has had a long time to prepare his aged care plan. Picture: Gary Ramage

This is emblematic of an opposition burned by their big-spending agenda in 2019 and fearful of making the same mistake twice. Some estimates suggest the Fair Work Commission could recommend wages rise by $4bn. Labor’s plan avoids factoring that into their election costings.

Certainly, better pay will help recruit and retain more carers, as Albanese said in his speech. But his five-point plan is missing a sector-wide workforce strategy, a key royal commission recommendation which aged care peak bodies this week blasted the government for ignoring in the budget.

Albanese’s speech was broadly successful in setting his campaign narrative. Renewal, not revolution. Permanent help with the cost of living, not one-off handouts. A leader who “holds a hose”, not one who takes off to Hawaii.

The Labor leader has been practising these lines for months. While the polls have turned in his favour, many voters haven’t been listening and still don’t know what to make of the alternative prime minister.

Scott Morrison is days away from calling the election, and Albanese has a few more punter-friendly policies up his sleeve to kick it off with a bang. Voters will begin to tune in — and time will tell if they like what they see.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese’s five-point plan on aged care is missing a sector-wide workforce strategy