PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (13:18): Firstly, I want to recognise the incredible work being done by our aged-care workers, from personal care workers and nurses to chefs, gardeners and fitness instructors. These dedicated and compassionate people are on the front line, caring for our loved ones and helping to deliver the Albanese Labor government's historic aged-care reforms.

Today I thank you for the incredibly important work you do caring for older people in my electorate of Gilmore and right across Australia. Located on the New South Wales South Coast, Gilmore has an ageing population. In fact, we have 28,000 aged pensioners—one of the highest numbers of any electorate in the country.

I am acutely aware of the many issues facing our older residents and have always strongly advocated for my senior constituents, who deserve dignity, respect and quality care. Almost every day my office receives emails and calls from older constituents or their family members seeking support for their aged-care needs, whether that's arranging meals, lawn mowing, help around their home or access to health services, or assisting with their transition to residential care.

Under those opposite, people in my electorate could wait up to 18 months or two years to receive the care they deserve. I'm pleased to say that, since the new Aged Care Act was introduced on 1 November 2025, the wait times in my region have halved and the number of inquiries from frustrated seniors has slowed significantly. There is certainly more to do, but, because of our changes, we are turning things around.

We are delivering safer, fairer and more transparent care for older Australians that puts their rights and their quality of life at its heart. Our additional Support at Home places mean our older residents—our parents, grandparents, other family members and neighbours—can remain independent for as long as possible, and our new Aged Care Act ensures people can stay connected to their families and friends, remain involved in their communities and enjoy enriched lives in their twilight years.

A higher level of care available at home means that more older Australians will be able to get the support they need without going into a clinical setting. Importantly, it means they'll be able to stay at home as they recover without bouncing back into hospital. We're working closely with the states and territories, who manage our hospitals, because we know too many older people are spending far too long in hospital when they should be in a more appropriate care environment.

This has been an ongoing issue in our aged-care system, and the pressures are being felt, particularly in regional areas like Gilmore, where hospital beds are sometimes the only care options for our elderly. But I must say I was disappointed when the New South Wales state government knocked back our offer of additional federal funding specifically to help with the backlog of aged-care beds.

However, I am pleased that the Albanese government stepped up and has made a record investment to increase the supply of aged-care beds, with the Illawarra to share in $115 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program, which will rapidly increase access to residential aged care on the South Coast. We're encouraging providers to build and open more beds within two years to help address immediate delayed-discharge pressures on hospitals.

The South Coast is a sea change hotspot for retirees. However, the growing ageing population has put pressure on our aged-care services. I'm delighted that a number of new aged-care facilities are now underway in Gilmore, which will pave the way for more aged-care beds.

I recently visited the expanded RFBI Berry Masonic Village, which boasts 14 additional beds, and work has commenced on IRT's Milton Faire aged-care community, which will offer 105 residential care beds and 244 independent living homes. Plans are also in the pipeline for a new IRT development at Moruya, which will accommodate around 473 residents across its independent living and aged-care facilities, and our recent federal budget will see a record $45 billion into aged care next year, including more aged-care packages, more aged-care beds and more support at home.

It is Labor that is taking steps to bring about real reforms that will change lives now and for future generations to come.