Tony Abbott’s second Budget needs to deliver security and certainty in aged care; even though the Prime Minister’s hold on his job is neither certain nor secure.
In its first budget, the Abbott Government axed the $653 million Aged Care Payroll Tax Supplement, threatening the viability of some aged care providers and effectively overturning the principle of competitive neutrality, which has existed in aged care since 1988.
Following the budget, the Government abolished Labor’s Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement, designed to provide additional support for those living with severe dementia in residential aged care facilities.
Senior and vulnerable Australians do not need any further cuts and uncertainty when it comes to their care, particularly at a time when the aged care system is undergoing significant changes in service delivery and financing.
Labor did the heavy lifting in aged care, implementing the Living Longer Living Better reforms which will ensure the sustainability of the system into the future.
This did not stop the Abbott Government from putting those reforms at risk by making shock cuts in its unfair and cruel 2014 budget.
It is time for Tony Abbott to put the future needs of older Australians ahead of protecting his hold on his job.
THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGEING MEMBER FOR BLAIR SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR AGED CARE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
