MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Mr SOON (Banks) (15:58): Older Australians have worked hard to build this country and shape our nation. They deserve our respect and care. Across the health and aged-care sector, this government has had to pick up the pieces left behind by the former coalition government and do the hard work of building systems that are capable of supporting Australians, particularly older Australians, well into the future.

I want to start by looking at access to health care and medications. Unlike some, this government recognised that bulk-billing rates were in decline and that investment was required to protect access to GPs. When the government made its first record investment in bulk-billing it was to triple the incentive for pensioners and concession cardholders—a cohort mostly of older Australians.

Additionally, while this government has lowered the cost of PBS medications to the lowest level in more than 21 years, it also extended the $7.70 freeze for pension and concession card holders until 2030. That's right—2030. In my community, the cheaper medicines program is delivering—more than two million scripts filled and more than $12 million saved.

Further, the government is taking the action needed to ensure that systemic neglect exposed by the royal commission is never allowed to happen again. The budget earlier this year delivered $3 billion in new investment for more aged-care beds, more packages and shorter wait times for older Australians. The government is also moving to ensure the sustainability of the residential aged-care sector, through targeted capital subsidies.

The government will deliver an extra 5,000 beds a year. This is before we get into new investments for more Specialist Dementia Care Program units and capital assistance to build new residential aged-care facilities, ensuring older Australians get the appropriate high-quality care that they deserve. The government also recognises that older Australians want to live independently at home for as long as possible.

The new Support at Home program delivers $4.3 billion of investment to create a system that delivers a high quality of care and enshrines the rights of older Australians in law. This government recognises that, if we want a high quality aged-care system, we need to invest in the people who make it possible. When Labor first came to government, we promised that we would back our aged-care workers and fight for a pay rise that recognises the value of the work that they do.

Labor made supportive submissions to the Fair Work Commission, and we delivered $18 billion to implement the landmark 15 per cent wage rise for aged-care workers. While this government is delivering, those opposite are only about division and the politics of grievance. When it comes to looking after older Australians, they never mention that a registered nurse is on site in aged-care homes more than 99 per cent of the time—a measure they said would force homes to close.

They never mention the 7.1 million extra minutes of care that are being delivered each day. They never mention that median assessment wait times are now under a month. They never mention that more than 80 per cent of aged-care homes now have a four- or five-star rating, when it was barely 50 per cent under their side, or any of the other measures and successes that myself and my colleagues on this side of the House have already outlined.

While this government will keep delivering for older Australians and making sure they get the respect and care they deserve, those opposite will keep pedalling scare campaigns and stoking division.