ADJOURNMENT

Mr PASIN (Barker) (13:20): I rise today to raise concerns about the Albanese Labor government's Support at Home system failures. Caring for, respecting and supporting vulnerable Australians is an important responsibility of the federal government. With an ageing population with a growing desire to age at home, older Australians deserve a system that is responsive and sustainable.

Clearly, the Albanese Labor government is failing in this task. The Albanese Labor government have abandoned older Australians who need support to stay independent in their own homes. Tragically, almost 5,000 older Australians died while waiting for care last year.

The latest figures show there were more than 200,000 older Australians waiting either for an aged-care assessment or for funding for a home-care package. A Senate inquiry into the implementation of this government's Support at Home reforms heard that the system is failing the very people it is meant to help and creating fear and uncertainty. I've spoken to many older Australians and their families, across every corner of Barker, who are enduring lengthy wait times for care they've been assessed as needing.

Recently, I was contacted by constituents near Bordertown regarding their father, aged 91, who was physically declining and required additional assistance to stay in his home. After multiple calls to arrange an ACAT and being advised that the wait would be at least another six weeks for an assessment, they said: 'We could get father into a local hospital, which would expedite his assessment.

However, we don't want to clog up an already stretched health system, and it also doesn't align with his wishes.' They went on: He's 91, walking is now difficult. It's a shame that when it is really needed we are having to wait 5 months for any sign of help. Another constituent, from Mount Gambier, recently emailed: The issue is that although they have been formally assigned these packages, the actual government funding is not immediately available to them Our elderly population deserves to age with dignity, peace of mind, and the immediate support they have been assessed as needing.

The constituent goes on: 'Both of my parents have worked hard as taxpaying citizens for this country, and the least that our government can do is to provide them with care as they age and provide the assistance they require.' This is completely unacceptable, and older Australians simply cannot continue to languish on waiting lists or not be able to access the services they need.

Melanie from the Barossa told me of her despair last year: Despite finally securing a Level 4 home care package after months of waiting, the package arrived far too late to make any real difference Her father was hospitalised and was left waiting for an aged-care placement. She said there was 'no timeframe, no certainty and no dignity'. Those who already had a home-care package and transitioned to the help-at-home program following the government's reforms have faced increased costs for services, resulting in a reduction in services to fit care-benefit budgets.

A constituent in Murray Bridge asked me to 'hold the government to account on their promise that no-one grandfathered would have to pay more or lose services'. They went on: This was a lie and they need to be held accountable. They continued, 'Many of us have lost services or will now pay out-of-pocket fees.' Constituents like John from Kapunda and Jeanette from Murray Bridge cannot access Commonwealth Home Support Program services despite being approved for access.

They call around to providers and can't get any services in their regional communities. A couple from Nuriootpa, aged 77 and 84, trying to arrange home maintenance and domestic care, recently told me: When contacting the list of Service Providers offered for Nuriootpa, they all made it quite clear that providers are full and not able to take on new clients even once a Package has been approved.

I'll continue to fight to ensure that the needs of older members of communities throughout my electorate of Barker are met. Older Australians who choose to age at home must have access to the care and support they need. My message to the Prime Minister is a simple one: Albo, older Australians deserve better.