Big win for older people: Labor backflips on plan to scrap aged care support program
Big win for older people: Labor backflips on plan to scrap aged care support program | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Big win for older people: Labor backflips on plan to scrap aged care support program 2026-08-20 Labor has scrapped a key pillar of its aged care reform agenda, reversing a decision to terminate the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) after a Greens-chaired inquiry slammed the proposal This morning Minister Sam Rae announced that funding for the integral entry-level aged care program would be guaranteed until July 2029, and maintained as a standalone program afterwards.
The Senate inquiry , chaired by Greens Older People spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne, found that scrapping the CHSP would have catastrophic consequences for older Australians, forcing more than 800,000 people into a struggling Support at Home system where over 200,000 people are already stuck on the waitlist. The inquiry recommended in a consensus report that the CHSP be maintained as a standalone program.
The CHSP provides essential support to older Australians, allowing an affordable, accessible option for ageing independently and in place. Comments attributable to Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Leader: “This is a massive win for the 800,000 people who rely upon these supports to live at home safely, independently and with dignity. "It is outrageous that Labor thought that older Australians should have their lives uprooted and future thrown into uncertainty - and Senator Penny Allman-Payne’s work through the inquiry process has highlighted how this has thrown pensioners into chaos and forced some community-based providers to shut up shop.
"The Greens will keep fighting to make sure all Australians have the help and care they need, and to stop Labor’s cuts to aged care and the NDIS.” Comments Attributable to Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens Spokesperson for Older People “The CHSP is an integral part of the aged care system. Labor’s plan to collapse it into its struggling Support at Home program was reckless and dangerous, as the Greens inquiry showed.
“I’ve always said that the CHSP should be retained, and that’s a position backed up by providers, advocates and the thousands of older people I’ve heard from who are desperate to keep the in-community supports they’ve always relied on. “The government’s delay on this announcement has not come without cost, leaving older people and providers in the lurch for far too long, forcing some of them to leave the system entirely for fear of losing their block funding.
“This cannot be a set-and-forget measure, the government must use this extra two years of guaranteed funding to engage in genuine codesign with advocates and the sector to figure out what CHSP will look like going forward. “If the government is serious about making CHSP work, it needs to not only continue the program, but deliver the funding that has been sorely needed for far too long.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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