Shadow Minister for Ageing, Senator Helen Polley says that the public release of the latest quarterly data on the waitlist for home care packages is now more than a fortnight late.

“I moved a motion in the Senate earlier this week calling on the Turnbull Government to release the latest round of data as a matter of urgency,” Senator Polley said.

“The Government is failing on their commitment to release the data two months after the period that the data covers – I want to know what they’re hiding.”

The latest data released on 3 March for the December quarter revealed there were 105,000 older Australians waiting for a home care package. Around 82,000 of those people waiting have high needs – many have dementia.

Senator Polley said that around 1000 older Australians have been waiting more than 12 months – some more than 24 months without any care in their home.

“My office is still receiving calls from distressed constituents who cannot get straight answers about when they will receive the level of care they need.

“I have one gentleman who is 84 and has been waiting 328 days for a level 3 Home care Package – according to My Aged Care he still has 12+ months to wait. In what world is this ok?”

“This is simply unacceptable. What is the Minister trying to hide in the latest round of data? I can only imagine that the wait list has grown and worsened which is why they’re sitting on it.

Senator Polley anticipates the Minister will try to quietly release the data now that Parliament has broken for the winter break.

“It’s obvious the Turnbull Government has given up trying to address its aged care crisis and resorted to hiding information from older Australians waiting for care,” Senator Polley said.

“I hope they release the data soon and prove me wrong.”

“The Turnbull Government needs to be honest with older Australians and their families about the care they’re able to receive – this was the whole point of the changes to home care last February.

“This is beyond a joke. Older Australians and Tasmanians deserve better than the aged care hoaxes and cover ups we’re seeing from the Turnbull Government. They deserve a better government and a better Prime Minister.”
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE LEADER (TASMANIA) SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR AGEING SENATOR FOR TASMANIA