The Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler was again grilled by ABC Radio's David Bevan in Adelaide this week, this time over the domestic assistance caps of 52 hours for cleaning per year and 18 hours for gardening proposed in the Aged Care Bill currently before Parliament.
When a caller rang in to complain about the caps, David pressured the Minister into confirming the caps are part of the proposed reforms, although the Minister appeared to be backing away from the policy, saying the matter is "under deep consideration by the Government".
The radio host then cornered the Minister into a technical detail on the reforms – would the caps apply to existing home care package recipients, who will have their packages 'grandfathered'?
The Minister could not answer the question. "I don't have that level of detail at my fingertips," he admitted.
Among several callers from the public was Federal Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, who said she shared concerns about the caps, the 76,000-strong home care waiting list, and the fact it's taking up to 15 months for some Australians to receive a Home Care Package at the level they are assessed as needing. She said she was concerned some Commonwealth Home Support Package users will have their services cut.
"There is no suggestion people are going to have their services cut who are in the home support program," Minister Butler said, clearly under pressure.
In the Senate Inquiry Report, the Coalition recommended the caps be reviewed and they are likely to propose amendments to the Bill on this topic.
It was the second time the Minister has been raked over the coals by David Bevan on aged care reforms. He should have been better prepared.
Read the full transcript of the radio interview here.
