In conversations with sector stakeholders this week, we have learnt that the Aged Care Taskforce’s highly anticipated interim advice to the Federal Government will not be released to the public.

The Taskforce was announced in the May 2023 Federal Budget to review aged care funding "to ensure that the aged care system is fair and equitable for all Australians”.

The interim advice will provide the Government with funding options for aged care, which we understand still includes as a primary focus increased consumer contributions – a reform that DCM Group has been advocating for two years now as Plan B.

The focus of the recommendations will be on changes that can be actioned without new legislation or further time-consuming reviews.

The Taskforce has met four times, with sub committees meeting regularly with a broad spectrum of relevant aged care stakeholders; they meet the superannuation sector next Friday in Melbourne for instance.

The Taskforce’s final report, due to be released in December, will be made public.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care confirmed the interim report will not be publicly released. A spokesperson said, “The interim advice prepared by the Aged Care Taskforce summarises the discussions and observations of the Taskforce to date. There are no plans to publicly release the interim advice as it is not the fully concluded views of the Taskforce.

“The Taskforce is due to provide a final report to government by 31 December 2023.”

The SOURCE: It’s disappointing the public isn’t going to see the funding options on the table and the direction the Taskforce is taking in its deliberations.