Either it spent up big time on one of its main Achilles heels, or it waited until the 2021 budget, by which time the aged care royal commission will have delivered its no doubt damning report, and no doubt expensive recommendations to fix the sector.
A big spending, broad-ranging package now would potentially ease the political pressure on a government under intense scrutiny over its handling of aged care.
That scrutiny was already building before COVID-19, but has ramped up significantly with the coronavirus-caused deaths of almost 700 nursing home residents, and counting, during the pandemic.
But it would be risky, as any spending commitments may not marry up with the commission’s recommendations.
The commission has already been tetchy about the government rolling out a patchwork of policy announcements on aged care, saying it had created a “moving target” for the commission to propose broader reform.
Waiting until 2021 risks looking politically reactive, as if it is being pushed reluctantly into a big funding commitment.
The government has effectively opted to wait.
“The government will provide a comprehensive report to the final recommendations following receipt of that report,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in his budget speech.
Knowing the sector could not be ignored at such a politically charged time, the government announced an additional 23,000 home care packages, worth about $1.6bn, which will support more older Australians to stay in their homes.
And the devastating impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes has already seen the government making a series of emergency funding measures throughout 2020, which total about $1.6bn.
There is much stock being put in the aged care royal commission’s final report, due in February.
So many older Australians, and their families, have a stake in the final outcome.
The commission’s final recommendations will no doubt be hugely expensive, and the government will hold fire until then.
It won’t be able to duck it next time.
As Mr Frydenberg said in his budget speech: “We know there is more to come.”
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