QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator RUSTON (South Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:12): Minister, it was revealed on Friday that 121,596 older Australians are currently waiting to be assessed for home-care support and that they could be waiting for up to 15 months just to be assessed. This is on top of the more than 87,000 older Australians on the national priority list who don't have home-care packages.

Minister, will you admit that at least 200,000 older Australians are being denied access to home-care support because of the inaction of your government? Minister, considering this evidence, what is the real reason that you are delaying essential new packages? (Time expired)