HSU calls for levy to fund aged care
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells told the ABC’s Insiders program that the Aged Care Taskforce would consider a levy
The Health Services Union is calling on the Federal Government to make a 0.65% aged care levy part of its policy platform.
Secretary of the HSU NSW, Gerard Hayes, told The Australian, “There’s an ageing population and where we are at today, it’s going to be worse tomorrow, it’s going to be worse in 10 years.
“If we can get these fixes in place… now, that matter is now solved for 30 years or more. “If we push it off to next … term, we’re just going to keep chasing our tails.” Both Royal Commissioners supported a levy, but could not agree on the terms and the Federal Government at the time did not support a levy. Labor has also not backed a levy to date.
In the Royal Commission’s original recommendations, Lynelle Briggs AM had proposed an aged care levy of 1% on an individual’s income from July 2023.
Alternatively, Tony Pagone QC suggested a levy that would require the Government to solely use the money for aged care, but did not nominate a rate. Aged Care Minister Anika Wells told the ABC’s Insiders program that the Aged Care Taskforce would consider a levy. The Taskforce has been established to examine the aged care funding, with the aim of creating a fairer system and improving financial sustainability in the sector.
