Many aged care providers will "put a shovel in the ground tomorrow" to build new aged care beds if they are given certainty about future funding arrangements, Shadow Minister for Aged Care Anne Ruston told Sky News on Monday.
Yet despite acknowledging the need for certainty, the Opposition has made it clear they may seek further amendments to the Australian Government's new Aged Care Act bill before they sign off.
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The Opposition has said it is particularly concerned about what reforms might mean for regional and rural aged care providers.
Last week, Senator Ruston told the ABC she was "highly critical" of the omission of Enrolled Nurses and allied health from mandatory care minute targets, a requirement particularly challenging for regional providers.
She hopes home care will be "demand driven" and the reforms mean there "wouldn't be any shortfall".
Speaking on Sky News last week, National Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie said the LNP remains in "internal discussions" on the reforms.
"In particular, we've had significant concerns with this government's response to the Aged Care Royal Commission for rural and regional providers in particular. This government has turned their back on them and we've seen them go bust.
"So we are keen to have a discussion that sees the sustainability of the sector. It won't be peace at any price."
