Media release – Independent Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie, 1 March 2021
A STATEMENT ON THE AGE CARE ROYAL COMMISSION
We didn’t need a Royal Commission to tell us that Australia’s age care system is broken, systemically and culturally.
But what the Commission has done is demonstrate clearly how the Federal Government underfunds the sector to the point of ruin. Remedying this will take big bucks and a hell of a lot more than the $452m announced today, which by the way is less than what the Government and Opposition waved through just last week for the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial.
The bottom line is that the Government needs to inject many billions of dollars in new funding if the waiting list for home care is to be addressed, and if the countless problems in residential care are to be turned around. Anything less will be hollow rhetoric. This is especially important for Tasmania, where our population is older and more vulnerable than other states.
We can no longer look away and say we didn’t know. The good news though is that we now have a blueprint for much-needed reform. Australia, as a rich, clever and compassionate country, can afford to provide a level of care for our elderly and most vulnerable that delivers the dignity and respect they deserve, and meets the world’s best standards.
Media release – Australian Medical Association, 1 March 2021
CARE CAN’T WAIT – AMA WELCOMES FINAL AGED CARE REPORT
The AMA welcomes the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety final report – a harrowing account of what doctors working in aged care have known for a long time and detailed recommendations for the future of aged care.
The AMA made five detailed submissions and appeared three times to tell the Royal Commission our experiences on behalf of our patients, their families, friends and carers. They can be viewed here.
AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said that older Australians have the right to live with dignity and have safe and appropriate aged care services provided to them.
“Older Australians deserve to have the same opportunity to have the best quality of life as everyone else, and the same access to high quality medical and nursing care they have enjoyed throughout their lives,” Dr Khorshid said.
“Sadly, this Report shows that this has not been the case. In fact, far from it.”
“The AMA has continuously warned the Government that the health and aged care systems are not equipped to deal with the growing ageing population living longer and with multiple chronic diseases.
“Together, the AMA and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation have been calling on the Government to take urgent measures to improve the situation in aged care and bring comfort and confidence to our parents and grandparents who have given so much to their families and the communities throughout their lives.
With the release of the Royal Commission’s final report, there must be no more excuses, no more delays. The reform process must start immediately. Care can’t wait.
“Doctors working in aged care have long called for change – now the Government must embrace this opportunity to make aged care a safe and high-quality place for older Australians, including improved access to medical care.
“The AMA is eager to work with Government in examining the findings and working to make the urgent and important changes as Australia introduces generational change to fix our aged care system once and for all.”
The AMA will analyse the Royal Commission’s 148 recommendations over the coming days and put forward a detailed position.
Media release – The Australia Institute, 1 March 2021
Aged Care Royal Commission Calls for Revenue Increase to Fund Recommendations
Among the recommendations in the Aged Care Royal Commission report is the call for an effective 1% increase in the Medicare levy, or a new Medicare-style Aged Care levy which could be applied progressively based on income.
“Increasing the Medicare levy by at least 1 per cent, or a new progressive Aged Care levy, is a rare opportunity to shore up Australia’s dwindling revenue base,” said Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute.
“The shocking findings of the Royal Commission have highlighted the urgent need for additional funding for Australia’s aged care sector.
“As the Prime Minister has said, this is a once in a generation opportunity to address the aged care crisis.
“It is never politically easy to increase taxes, that is why it is crucial our Parliament does not to miss this opportunity to permanently increase Australia’s revenue base.
“Australia is a low tax country — in fact, the ninth lowest taxing country in the OECD. If the OECD average tax to GDP ratio applied in Australia, revenue would be a staggering $107 billion higher per annum.
“A Medicare levy rise of 1% is small compared the size and scale of the recent income tax cuts.
“Collecting more revenue via a very modest permanent increase in the Medicare levy or a new progressive Aged Care levy will help ensure this opportunity is not lost, helping protect aged care funding into the future.”
