A landmark report from the Inspector-General of Aged Care has found the Australian Government’s reforms will not deliver the “transformational change” recommended by the Royal Commission, sparking fears of a two-tiered system where care is determined by a person’s ability to pay.
The progress report, released by Inspector-General Natalie Siegel-Brown, assesses the government’s progress ahead of the new Aged Care Act’s commencement on 1 November. It concludes that fundamental flaws remain, particularly regarding the introduction of a new co-payments model.
The report states the Inspector-General holds “genuine fears that the manner of implementing co-payments may set up a scenario where vulnerable older Australians will forego care: either because they cannot afford it or because they are worried about the cost.”
The findings have been met with alarm from both political and advocacy sectors. “This is a shocking wake up call for supporters of the new Act,” said Greens spokesperson for older people, Senator Penny Allman-Payne. “I am scared stiff for older people under this new system.”
Allman-Payne warned of a “co-payment tsunami about to break on the older people in this country,” and called on the government to immediately model the impact of the new fees.
Aged care advocates echoed the concerns. Carolanne Barkla, CEO of Aged Rights Advisory Service, described the report as a “powerful reminder of the challenges facing aged care” and a “useful report card for government.”
“This report sends a clear message – there is a lot more work to be done to better support providers, residents and older people,” Barkla said.
Beyond co-payments, the Inspector-General identified numerous other serious shortcomings in the government’s reform agenda. These include the lack of a “robust enforcement mechanism” for human rights in the new Act, ongoing long wait times for home care that “lead to reduced quality of life,” and a complaints system that remains slow, confusing, and often leaves cases unresolved.
At its core, the report found the government rejected the Royal Commission’s call to create an “entitlement to aged care,” choosing instead to retain a “rationed system.”
The Inspector-General’s final verdict was unambiguous: “The transformational change Commissioners envisaged has not been delivered to date and will not be delivered by the Act.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
