David Littleproud, leader of the National Party, announced this week that if the Coalition is elected on 3 May, it will form a Regional Australia Future Fund to deliver ongoing funding for regional, rural and remote Australia, with growing the regional aged care workforce identified as a key priority.
The Fund will initially be funded with cash from the Budget, but then funded from additional Government income from higher commodity prices, with the aim to reach $20 billion.
Member for Capricornia (left) and
David Littleproud, Member for Maranoa and
Leader of the National Party
The Coalition also promised funding for two remote Queensland aged care homes in Littleproud's Maranoa electorate.
$8 million has been promised for Jessamine Place Low Care Aged Accommodation Facility in Winton, 1,300 km north of Brisbane, which will be the town's only aged care home apart from the existing six-bed Winton Multipurpose Health Service.
The Coalition also promised $6.35 million to expand Barcaldine Aged Care facility, about 1,000km northwest of Brisbane.
President of Winton Community and Aged Care Service Leisa Fraser said the $11.5 million Jessamine Place, which has been in the planning for years and will be otherwise community funded, will prevent some families from having to put their loved ones into the next closest aged care facility in Longreach, more than 175 km away.
“There are people in our community that are, in some cases, driving hundreds of kilometres per day just to see their loved ones in aged care facilities in other areas because they can’t access what they need here in their own community, and that is no way to spend your best years,” she said.
The Coalition also promised $6.35 million to expand Barcaldine Aged Care facility, about 1,000km northwest of Brisbane.
Barcaldine Aged Care Inc Vice President Ken Wilson said the Coalition’s commitment would provide locals with access to transitional care, bridging the gap between residential aged care and independent living accommodation.