❓ Mr Eatts questions the Minister about securing promised federal home care packages for WA seniors, given perceived past funding shortfalls. The Minister defends her advocacy, highlighting federal responsibility and criticising the opposition's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Aged care
395. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors:
I refer to the
minister's comments in The West Australian last week in which she claimed that she would be seeking nearly half the 20,000
home care packages the federal government has promised to fast-track.
(1) Given the minister's federal colleagues have
already abandoned WA on major infrastructure funding and refused to bankroll
her government's racetrack, what confidence can seniors in the state possibly
have that she will be able to secure these urgently needed packages?
(2) Will the minister guarantee that the
additional home care packages allocated to WA will be prioritised for the
regional communities most in need?
395. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors:
I refer to the
minister's comments in The West Australian last week in which she claimed that she would be seeking nearly half the 20,000
home care packages the federal government has promised to fast-track.
(1) Given the minister's federal colleagues have
already abandoned WA on major infrastructure funding and refused to bankroll
her government's racetrack, what confidence can seniors in the state possibly
have that she will be able to secure these urgently needed packages?
(2) Will the minister guarantee that the
additional home care packages allocated to WA will be prioritised for the
regional communities most in need?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Unfortunately, those things are
physically not in my control. I can advocate for more home care packages. I can
advocate for our share, as I just said in the previous answer. I will advocate
for, as a minimum, 10.2% of the share of either home care packages or
residential aged care, including timely assessments for home care packages. I
know the aged care assessment team assessments have been challenging for people
to obtain, including residents in regional areas.
I am absolutely passionate and
determined to advocate for Western Australia's share of all of those things, but
they are not in our control. The federal government funds them. It is their
system. They regulate that system. I repeat: What is the
member doing? What is his party doing? What is the Liberal Party doing to
advocate to its federal colleagues on these issues?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Simone McGurk: I do not see much. It might be
occurring quietly and effectively; I am not so sure about that. I urge, and I
said this to the member previously when he asked me questions in this place,
the member needs to understand what level of government is responsible for what
services.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Simone McGurk: In Australia, the federal government
is responsible for funding and regulating aged care. We are very clear about
that, but we are determined to advocate for our fair share. I understand that
people are frustrated in the regions. They are frustrated in our metropolitan
areas as well. I understand that, and we have made the point to the federal
government that there are restrictions on the level and complexity of the
packages that people are getting, particularly the level 3 and 4 packages.
I think when we
visited Canberra, there were about 2,000 people in Western Australia waiting
for a level 4 package. I mean, level 4 is the highest level of home care
package. That is just not acceptable. Their families would be struggling. Those
people would be struggling. Minister Rae assured me that a number of those
people will be getting level 3 packages. In fact, that is not what some of the
providers are telling me, but we are clear that we need more reliable and real-time
data from the federal government. We are clear that we expect and want good and
real-time data from the federal government and we have formally raised that with
the federal government. But, of course, data is a means to an end. The data
will give us a picture of exactly what is happening to those people who need level
4.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You are not doing something.
Ms Simone McGurk: I am certainly doing more than you
are doing, member. I am certainly doing more than you are doing. All that you
are doing—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Leader of the Opposition.
Ms Simone McGurk: —is
sitting there with pot shots, commentating—
The Speaker: Minister, just hang on two secs.
Opposition members,
this is a question from your side. The minister is responding. If you keep
carrying on the way you are going, you will not get to ask a supplementary.
Carry on, minister.
Ms Simone McGurk: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
As far as I am
aware, and I am very happy to be corrected, there was not one policy or peep
before the election from that side about what will happen for our seniors in
this state, let alone on specific areas like aged care. There was not one peep.
The Leader of the Opposition's side had the opportunity to put something up
before the election, but there were crickets—absolute crickets. Now he
is sitting there saying, "You do this, you do that, you're not good
enough, you're not doing this." There was absolutely nothing from that side.
I will continue to
advocate. We have been able to get some of those packages brought forward, but
I and others have made the point that these are not new packages. These are not
new resources announced by the federal government; they were simply brought
forward. About 8,000 Western Australians need home care in our state and we
will not stop until those people are given the right care and we also have more
residential aged-care beds for older Western Australians.
physically not in my control. I can advocate for more home care packages. I can
advocate for our share, as I just said in the previous answer. I will advocate
for, as a minimum, 10.2% of the share of either home care packages or
residential aged care, including timely assessments for home care packages. I
know the aged care assessment team assessments have been challenging for people
to obtain, including residents in regional areas.
I am absolutely passionate and
determined to advocate for Western Australia's share of all of those things, but
they are not in our control. The federal government funds them. It is their
system. They regulate that system. I repeat: What is the
member doing? What is his party doing? What is the Liberal Party doing to
advocate to its federal colleagues on these issues?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Simone McGurk: I do not see much. It might be
occurring quietly and effectively; I am not so sure about that. I urge, and I
said this to the member previously when he asked me questions in this place,
the member needs to understand what level of government is responsible for what
services.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Simone McGurk: In Australia, the federal government
is responsible for funding and regulating aged care. We are very clear about
that, but we are determined to advocate for our fair share. I understand that
people are frustrated in the regions. They are frustrated in our metropolitan
areas as well. I understand that, and we have made the point to the federal
government that there are restrictions on the level and complexity of the
packages that people are getting, particularly the level 3 and 4 packages.
I think when we
visited Canberra, there were about 2,000 people in Western Australia waiting
for a level 4 package. I mean, level 4 is the highest level of home care
package. That is just not acceptable. Their families would be struggling. Those
people would be struggling. Minister Rae assured me that a number of those
people will be getting level 3 packages. In fact, that is not what some of the
providers are telling me, but we are clear that we need more reliable and real-time
data from the federal government. We are clear that we expect and want good and
real-time data from the federal government and we have formally raised that with
the federal government. But, of course, data is a means to an end. The data
will give us a picture of exactly what is happening to those people who need level
4.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You are not doing something.
Ms Simone McGurk: I am certainly doing more than you
are doing, member. I am certainly doing more than you are doing. All that you
are doing—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Leader of the Opposition.
Ms Simone McGurk: —is
sitting there with pot shots, commentating—
The Speaker: Minister, just hang on two secs.
Opposition members,
this is a question from your side. The minister is responding. If you keep
carrying on the way you are going, you will not get to ask a supplementary.
Carry on, minister.
Ms Simone McGurk: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
As far as I am
aware, and I am very happy to be corrected, there was not one policy or peep
before the election from that side about what will happen for our seniors in
this state, let alone on specific areas like aged care. There was not one peep.
The Leader of the Opposition's side had the opportunity to put something up
before the election, but there were crickets—absolute crickets. Now he
is sitting there saying, "You do this, you do that, you're not good
enough, you're not doing this." There was absolutely nothing from that side.
I will continue to
advocate. We have been able to get some of those packages brought forward, but
I and others have made the point that these are not new packages. These are not
new resources announced by the federal government; they were simply brought
forward. About 8,000 Western Australians need home care in our state and we
will not stop until those people are given the right care and we also have more
residential aged-care beds for older Western Australians.
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