Federal MP Anne Webster says the government has pushed back a start date for pricing changes for its Support at Home Program, showing they weren’t ready for significant reforms.
The pricing changes were due to start in July next year, but that’s now been delayed until mid-2026.
The Member for Mallee and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health says she’s worried about the lack of transparency around the delay, with the government not even discussing the issue with its Transition taskforce.
“The Albanese Government rushed their Aged Care Bill through Parliament in the final sitting fortnight for 2024 with empty promises to older Australians, and now it is clear that they were not ready,” Dr Webster said.
Large home care providers had been warning Labor’s initial July 2025 price-change timeline would have had an adverse impact on the financial sustainability of the home care sector.
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/hand-aged-care-sympathy-senior-3699825/
