In a scathing response to newly released aged care data, Greens spokesperson for older people Senator Penny Allman-Payne has labelled the situation a "national shame." The figures reveal that elderly Australians in their 80s and 90s are facing wait times of up to eight months to receive essential home care support.
Critical Shortages in Elderly Care Provision
Senator Allman-Payne emphasised that eight months represents an unacceptably long period for vulnerable older citizens to wait for assistance. She directly attributed these critical shortages to what she described as the Labor government's deliberate policy of "rationing" care through tightly controlled releases of home care packages.
Avoidable Tragedies and Political Priorities
The Greens senator revealed the human cost behind these statistics, stating that older Australians are dying while waiting up to a year or more for necessary care. She contrasted this situation with what she perceives as misplaced government priorities, noting that major political parties would rather allocate funds toward nuclear submarine programs and corporate handouts than ensure proper care for elderly citizens during their final life stages.
"When the Greens opposed Labor's new Aged Care Act in Parliament, we warned the government that this is what would happen," Senator Allman-Payne declared, highlighting her party's consistent opposition to the current legislative framework governing aged care provision.
Expectations in a Wealthy Nation
Concluding her remarks, the senator expressed fundamental expectations for care standards in an affluent country like Australia. "Our parents and grandparents should be able to get the care they need at the time that they need it," she asserted, framing the current situation as both preventable and morally unacceptable given the nation's resources and capacity.
