MORE THAN 200,000 OLDER AUSTRALIANS LEFT WAITING: URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON HOME CARE - 4 September, 2025

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3 Dec

The Federal Government’s decision to immediately release 20,000 new Home Care Packages is an overdue step for older Australians and hopefully will flow to Lyne residents, says Federal Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold MP.

The announcement follows sustained pressure from across the Coalition after the Albanese Government failed to release any new packages this financial year – despite promising 83,000 new packages as part of its aged care reform agenda.

Waitlists for Home Care Packages ballooned from 87,000 in March to 108,000 in July, while a further 121,000 older Australians are still waiting to be assessed.

“It should never have come to this,” said Ms Penfold.

“My colleagues and I have been contacted by countless local residents waiting for an assessment and then waiting to get a package.

“It took us raising it in the Parliament for the Government to act despite the urgent need and the availability of funding. What was missing was the Government’s willingness to act.”

The Government has also agreed to release a further 20,000 packages between November and the end of the year, with the remainder of the promised 43,000 to be delivered by mid-2026.

“Lyne has the oldest average population in the country, and many older residents are facing real challenges. Delays in care put both health and independence at risk – especially in regional areas where services are harder to reach. This hold-up is unfair and unnecessary.”

“For months, we’ve heard stories of older Australians left waiting far too long for the care they need – and in many cases, deteriorating while they wait,” Ms Penfold said.

Ms Penfold said she would continue to push for timely aged care delivery and meaningful reforms that prioritise care over red tape.

“This Government is failing older Australians, not only in ensuring care but in ensuring the availability of carers. I know of at least one local aged care facility that has been waiting over 10 months for aged care support worker Subclass 407 visas to be approved. I wrote to the Minister for Immigration to expedite the matter. The response was that this was “standard processing time,” yet only a year ago, the processing time was just 4 weeks.

“If ten months is acceptable, what else is the Government overlooking?

“This delay, inaction, and lack of urgency to provide the care and support our older population desperately needs is unacceptable. I will keep calling on the Government to act and will work to ensure that every older Australian receives the dignity, care, and support they deserve,” she said.

ENDS

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