Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston wanted to make it clear "this is Labor’s package of reforms" for the aged care sector in her press statement.
The Opposition though has achieved significant changes as it negotiated with the Government. These include:
• "The inclusion of grandfathering arrangements, to ensure that every Australian who has already commenced their journey of ageing within the Commonwealth system will not be impacted by these changes.
• "The inclusion of a lower taper rate to ensure equitable contributions for Australians who have worked hard all their lives to save for their retirement.
• "An assurance that the Federal Government will remain the majority funder of aged care, not the consumer.
• "The maintenance of a lifetime cap on care contributions across both residential and home care to provide certainty to families who may have loved ones in care for many years.
• "The inclusion of a time limited cap for residential aged care to ensure that older Australians and their families will only be required to contribute to care costs for four years.
• "$300 million in additional capital funding through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Programme for regional, rural and remote aged care providers to upgrade their facilities.
• "Additional care funding particularly for regional, rural and remote aged care homes.
• "The removal of criminal penalties from the Aged Care Act, following serious concerns that their inclusion would force the exit of highly capable staff from the sector in fear of being criminally punished to a level not seen in any other industry.
• "The removal of provisions that would have forced unionism into every aged care home.
"With these changes now confirmed, the Opposition will agree not to amend the financial sustainability framework contained in the Government’s Aged Care Bill so they will finally introduce the Bill into the Parliament and lift the veil of secrecy," said the Shadow Minister.
