Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has shifted Mr Butler (pictured above) – who served as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing in Julia Gillard’s Government between 2010 and 2013 – out of climate change and back into familiar territory after he was appointed Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing last week.
It was under his watch that the Productivity Commission and his Department produced the ‘Living Longer, Living Better’ reforms which removed the ‘low’ and ‘high care’ classifications from residential care and introduced Consumer-Directed Control (CDC) and new means testing and payment arrangements.
Mr Butler’s interest in the sector didn’t depart when Labor lost the election in 2013. In 2015, he published a book ‘Advanced Australia: The Politics of Ageing’, looking at the increasing life expectancy for the Baby Boomer generation and arguing for a more positive approach to ageing.
Book argues for Government must take “strong lead” on ageing Australia
It is an interesting read – with some of the messages matching those coming out of the Royal Commission. The book discusses the idea of a ‘Third Age’ that is financially secure, active and healthy – and the need for a dignified ‘Fourth Age’ as older people approach the end of their lives.
Mr Butler concludes that Australia is not as well-placed as it could be to meet these challenges – and Governments must take a “strong lead” that addresses ingrained attitudes to ageing.
“Only then will Australians get a real sense that their Government as a broad plan to help make their parents’ and their own retirement a fulfilling phase of life,” he writes.
Mr Butler will be joined on the portfolio by Ged Kearney – who was Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation from 2008 to 2010 – as Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, and Clare O’Neil as Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, while former Shadow Minister on Ageing Julie Collins moves to agriculture.
Albanese says health and aged care have “never been so important”
Labor MP Chris Bowen will take up Mr Butler’s vacated climate change and energy portfolio which he has held for the last three elections.
The shift has been widely seen as the Opposition Leader walking away from pursuing an ambitious climate change agenda – rather than an attempt to shore up Labor’s aged care credentials.
But Mr Albanese denied this, saying the reshuffle would ensure Australians “get the most out of Labor”.
“This is the strongest team to form an Albanese Labor government. The role of our health system and our aged care system have never been more important,” he said.
Aged care does not appear to be too high on Labor’s agenda yet. On Wednesday, Mr Butler called a press conference – but only to call on Coalition MPs to censure Liberal MP Craig Kelly over his comments around unproven coronavirus treatments.
But with the Aged Care Royal Commission due to hand down its report by 26 February, expect to hear more from Mr Butler.
