industry & policy committed to achieving the savings identified in the May 2016 federal Budget, primarily through changes to ACFI, the cross-bench parliamentarians will be doing their best to see that the funding cuts are not realised.
Post-election optimism
Photo: AAPIMAGE
M @ LASANational
After one of the longest election campaigns in Australia’ s history, and almost a six-week wait to realise the final makeup of the lower house and Senate, I am confident that aged-care issues and funding will have a greater profile and priority in the 45th Australian Parliament.
With the Malcolm Turnbull Government holding a small majority, it is looking highly likely that minor parties and independents will hold the balance of power and have a big say on policy and funding decisions in the new Parliament.
To this end, LASA has already been pro-actively engaging with the newly elected representatives who will sit on the cross-bench. We have sought their enduring commitment to hold the government to account for ill-informed funding decisions and to achieve a more collaborative and constructive approach by government to addressing aged-care issues across the spectrum of residential care, retirement living and home care.
Funding cuts and reform still loom large, but a co-operative cross-bench and responsive ministers are good signs for the future.
By Sean Rooney
MINOR PARTIES AND INDEPENDENTS PLEDGE TO REVERSE CUTS Throughout the federal election, LASA raised public awareness through our Respect Our Seniors – Reverse the $ 3.1 Billion Cuts campaign. LASA’ s efforts, combined with our members’ involvement, resulted in several candidates and political parties committing to action on recent funding cuts.
The Nick Xenophon Team pledged to scrap the Coalition’ s planned $ 1.8 billion of aged-care cuts and demand a review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument( ACFI).
The Greens have committed to opposing: aged care cuts; the cessation of the Payroll Tax Supplement; and cuts to aged-care training and education. They are also proposing a cost-of-care study and a review of ACFI.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has also pledged to stop the cuts as the second of her top-five urgent matters to be addressed in this Parliament.
Although the two major parties remain
MINISTERIAL REAPPOINTMENTS AND THE NEED FOR GREATER CO-OPERATION LASA welcomes the reappointment of Sussan Ley as minister for aged care and Ken Wyatt as the assistant minister for aged care, to allow stability and continuity for our industry during this period of intense reform. However, a greater level of engagement and co-operation is still needed between government and providers.
In the lead up to the election, several candidates and political parties committed to a range of positive aged-care policies, including action to reverse recent funding cuts. LASA is calling on Ley to work cooperatively with the industry, the newly elected minor parties, independents and cross-benchers who have committed to addressing aged-care issues.
POSITIVE SIGNS FOR AGED-CARE ADVOCACY IN NEW PARLIAMENT It is encouraging to see funding issues already receiving a higher profile and priority in the new Parliament, with Senator Nick Xenophon’ s recent call for a Senate Inquiry into funding cuts. LASA is supporting Xenophon’ s call and requesting the terms of reference for the proposed inquiry consider the true and full cost of provision, including residential, home and community care.
Coinciding with Xenophon’ s announcement, the newly appointed shadow minister for aged care, Julie Collins, increased pressure on the government demanding it release, by lodgement of a freedom of information request, all economic modelling on its 2016 Budget decision to slash $ 1.2 billion from ACFI. Also, in the same week, Lambie highlighted concerns about aged-care funding cuts in her first meeting with Turnbull since the election.
LASA’ S APPROACH TO ENGAGING GOVERNMENT AND AGED-CARE STAKEHOLDERS Building on this interest at the Parliamentary level, LASA is embarking on a collaborative and strategic approach when engaging government and stakeholders. It is based on relationships
18 agedcareinsite. com. au