The fix is in for ‘broken’ aged care as royal commission report delivered

The quality of life of millions of Australians could hinge on a document now sitting with the Morrison government.

Governor-General David Hurley receives the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety from commissioner Lynelle Briggs, left, and acting official secretary Sara Samios in Sydney on Friday. Picture: AAP

The quality of life of millions of Australians receiving aged-care services now or who will enter the system in coming years could hinge on a document now sitting with the Morrison government.

After more than two years of work, which included 23 public hearings involving 641 ­witnesses, and the receipt of 10,500 public submissions, the aged-care royal commission handed its final report to the Governor-General on Friday.

It is now up to the government to decide on the timing of its release, which is expected to be early next week, and on its policy response. While some detail is expected next week, a more comprehensive response will be in the 2021 budget, with aged care likely to be a centrepiece.

There is broad acceptance from consumers, politicians and providers that significant reform must be undertaken to reform a system commissioner Lynelle Briggs described as “broken”.

An interim report produced by Ms Briggs and co-commissioner Tony Pagone, was entitled simply Neglect.

Expectations are high that the commissioners will recommend a radical shake-up. Their proposals will be critical for many Australians, and the cost to the taxpayer likely to be huge.

The ageing of the population means more aged-care services will be required. Already 4.1 million people are aged over 65, a number that will more than double by 2057.

Aged-care providers accept the system is broken, but say that even at more than $20bn a year currently, too little public funding is being provided to ensure safety and quality. They say $55bn needs to be spent in the next decade just on nursing homes to provide quality care for those who need it, and that is ­before the ailing home-care system is brought up to scratch.

“Australia spends less than half what other comparable countries do on aged care, about 1.2 per cent of GDP compared to an OECD average of 2.5 per cent,” Aged and Community Service Australia chief executive Pat Sparrow said.

“Older Australians want and deserve more staff to care for them … along with better facilities and even better meals.”

Scott Morrison is calling for a bipartisan commitment to the recommendations contained in the royal commission’s final report. “(It) will identify serious and disturbing issues that are a product of decades,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday.

“It’s important, I think, the government is supported by the parliament right across all parties and we get on with the things that we need to do.”

Labor isn’t keen to take up the offer. Anthony Albanese said it wasn’t good enough that thousands of Australians had died while waiting to be approved for a home-care package.

“When it comes to home care, there’s still something like 11,000 people who had … their home-care packages approved (who) died on the waiting list over the last financial year,” the Opposition Leader said.