Tony Abbott is focused on protecting his own job while ignoring crucial aged care workforce issues.
The Abbott Government’s second Budget looks set to make it harder for the aged care sector to recruit staff in spite of workforce shortages and increasing consumer demand.
Plans to change fringe benefits tax arrangements for the not-for-profit sector could make it harder to attract suitable staff at a time when the sector needs to quadruple its workforce by 2050 to meet the increased demand of an ageing population.
The Abbott Government has a shameful record of ignoring and mishandling workforce pressures in the aged care sector, potentially putting vulnerable older Australians and the people who care for them, at risk.
Ten months ago they promised to undertake an “audit” of the various funds available for aged care workforce development, with a view to developing a “coherent strategy” (Senator Mitch Fifield, ABC Radio NSW Statewide, 3 July 2014).
There is still no sign of a workforce strategy let alone a coherent one, with the audit only recently completed and the audit report not released.
One of the first acts of the Abbott Government was scrapping the $1.2 billion Aged Care Workforce Supplement. This Supplement was put in place by Labor and would have delivered improved pay and conditions for some of Australia’s lowest paid workers.
Tony Abbott needs to focus more on improving jobs and quality outcomes in aged care rather than focus on his own job.
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGEING MEMBER FOR BLAIR SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR AGED CARE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
