❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the Minister regarding WA's share of additional home care packages, citing a Senate initiative and perceived government interest in half the available packages. The Minister's response clarifies the quote's context, highlights the Commonwealth's responsibility for aged care funding and regulation, and notes the number of WA residents on the national waitlist.
AnsweredQoN 659Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Seniors—Home care packages
659. Hon Neil Thomson to
the minister representing the Minister for Aged
Care and Seniors:
I note the recent
initiative in the Senate by the Liberal–National coalition, the
Australian Greens and crossbench to protect seniors' home care packages, and the
minister's pronouncements that the government is "eyeing off" half of
the 20,000 additional packages available.
(1) Has the department undertaken an assessment of
demand for home care packages in WA?
(2) If yes to (1), how many are required?
(3) Has the minister written to the Commonwealth
minister responsible for these packages?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister table that
correspondence?
(5) Given that the minister has said we need half
of the available packages, will the minister guarantee 10,000 new home care
packages in Western Australia?
659. Hon Neil Thomson to
the minister representing the Minister for Aged
Care and Seniors:
I note the recent
initiative in the Senate by the Liberal–National coalition, the
Australian Greens and crossbench to protect seniors' home care packages, and the
minister's pronouncements that the government is "eyeing off" half of
the 20,000 additional packages available.
(1) Has the department undertaken an assessment of
demand for home care packages in WA?
(2) If yes to (1), how many are required?
(3) Has the minister written to the Commonwealth
minister responsible for these packages?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister table that
correspondence?
(5) Given that the minister has said we need half
of the available packages, will the minister guarantee 10,000 new home care
packages in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and
Seniors.
(1)–(5) The member's question refers to a
media headline, not quotes from the minister. The correct quote states: "Since
I became Minister for Aged Care my first ask was for the Federal Government to
clear the backlog of 8000 home care packages, so we don't have older West Australians
waiting for the appropriate care they need,". The Commonwealth government
collects and publishes data on the number of people waiting for home care
packages. As per Commonwealth data, as at 31 March 2025, there were 7,721 Western
Australians on the national home care package waitlist. The WA government has consistently
advocated to the Commonwealth to clear the home care package waitlist. The Commonwealth,
not the WA government, is the funder, regulator and market steward for aged care
in Australia, including home care.
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and
Seniors.
(1)–(5) The member's question refers to a
media headline, not quotes from the minister. The correct quote states: "Since
I became Minister for Aged Care my first ask was for the Federal Government to
clear the backlog of 8000 home care packages, so we don't have older West Australians
waiting for the appropriate care they need,". The Commonwealth government
collects and publishes data on the number of people waiting for home care
packages. As per Commonwealth data, as at 31 March 2025, there were 7,721 Western
Australians on the national home care package waitlist. The WA government has consistently
advocated to the Commonwealth to clear the home care package waitlist. The Commonwealth,
not the WA government, is the funder, regulator and market steward for aged care
in Australia, including home care.
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