Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Hodgins-May ) (10:50): I will now deal with the remaining second reading amendment circulated by the opposition. The question is that the amendment on sheet 3426 be agreed to. Opposition's circulated amendment— At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate: (a) notes that: (i) the Albanese Labor Government promised to deliver 83,000 new home care places for older Australians, but to date has delivered zero, (ii) 87,597 older Australians are currently waiting on the National Priority System for a home care place they have been assessed as needing, (iii) 121,596 older Australians are waiting to be assessed for a home care place, (iv) as a result, more than 200,000 vulnerable Australians and their families are still waiting for either a home care place or an assessment for a home care place, (v) almost 5,000 vulnerable Australians have died in the past year while on the waiting list for a home care place, (vi) the most vulnerable Australians are now waiting up to 15 months for access to a home care place they have been assessed as needing, compared to 3 to 6 months under the former Coalition Government, and (vii) the aged care sector is ready to deliver home care places, despite the Minister falsely blaming the sector for the Government's failures; and (b) condemns the Prime Minister for his cruel broken promise, which has put some of our most vulnerable Australians at risk".

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock? Senator David Pocock: I was trying to get your attention to ask that part (a) and part (b) be put separately. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, I can do that.

Thank you, Senator Pocock. The question is that part (a) of the amendment on sheet 3426 be agreed to.