Aged care in the headlines – could it become THE election issue?

You would be hard-pressed this week to turn on the news or open a paper without reading about the crisis gripping the aged care sector. Not since the Royal Commission Final Report 12 months ago – and perhaps even not then – has aged care so completely dominated the news. Despite the Government’s religious discrimination bill and the Prime Minister’s apology in the wake of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ landmark inquiry into parliamentary workplaces dominating politics in Canberra, the crisis gripping the aged care sector has still captured widespread media attention. The impact of Omicron on the aged care workforce and quality of care is terrible. Yet if there is one benefit to come out of this situation, it is that the public consciousness is now focused on the system. Even the Royal Commission didn’t result in the public discourse we are now seeing around aged care. Labor has seized on this (see story below), using the situation to take a whip to the Coalition and the Minister for Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck. However, the Opposition has yet to unveil a clear policy platform for aged care. On the other side, the Morrison Government is in the process of rolling out its Royal Commission reforms – but consumer groups say the funding will fall far short of what is required. Consumer peak body National Seniors published its pre-Budget submission this week, calling on both parties to commit to between $7 billion and $15 billion in extra funding for residential care and home care, including through the possibility of a levy, tax hikes or an increase in the GST. And so far, neither party has backed the unions’ push for a 25% wage increase for aged care workers due to be heard by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in July. The Prime Minister announced a temporary boost to aged care wages last week, but only Labor has said it would make a submission to the FWC if it wins power – with no price tag. Peak bodies and unions have so far failed to gain any traction on long-term funding and workforce solutions. But with aged care now in the spotlight, is it time for the sector to drive a conversation about the true cost of a quality aged care system? As discussed below, the HSU says that 71% of Australian voters support a 25% increase to workers’ wages. Any increase will need to be met by either the Government – via the taxpayer – or the consumer, via co-contributions. Some in the sector are already on this path: former NSW Premier and current HammondCare CEO Mike Baird was in the AFR on Tuesday, saying it was “time for action” on wages in the sector. If others join in with their voices, could we see aged care – and its funding – finally hit the top of the political agenda?