Wayne Swan’s massive debt and massive deficit Budget has ignored a Senate committee report, a Productivity Commission report, industry leaders and its own National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report when it callously overlooked the embattled aged care sector.
“The impact that years and years of future Rudd government debt and deficit will have on aged care is extremely alarming,” said Shadow Minister for Ageing, Margaret May.
“Wayne Swan’s poorly targeted cash splash handouts and reckless spending have come at a high cost to the aged care sector who have missed out as a result, said Mrs May.
Wayne Swan was quoted on 8 May saying:
“…the federal budget will contain reforms to address longer-term structural problems caused by the ageing population.”
(Laura Tingle, Australian Financial Review – May 8, 2009)
“What he says and what he does are two completely different things.
“Wayne Swan has completely failed to recognise the impact an ageing population will have on the aged care sector,” said Mrs May.
“The Rudd government has continued its Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde approach with aged care, giving a pension increase with one hand and stripping away the $910 million indexation of the Conditional Adjustment Payment subsidy with the other.
“Caring for Australia’s aged and frail is clearly not on the Rudd Government’s agenda.
“If Wayne Swan was serious about caring for senior Australians, aged care infrastructure would not have been excluded from the $22 billion infrastructure package and the previous stimulus packages.
“It is disappointing that investment in the aged care needs of an ageing population are not a Wayne Swan priority.
“Investment in aged care homes provides long-term economic and social benefits to communities around Australia as well as creating vital jobs.
“It is extraordinary that Wayne Swan thought investing in school tuckshops was more important than investing in the care needs of an ageing population.
“The Coalition supports well-targeted infrastructure programmes that deliver long-term benefits.
“It’s time the government got serious about Australia’s ageing population.
“Wayne Swan started with a $20 billion surplus and now owns a $58 billion deficit.
“Wayne Swan’s reckless spending has wasted an important opportunity to meet the challenges of an ageing population.
“Currently 40% of all aged care providers and 70% of not for profit aged care providers are operating in the red.
“There is close to a zero return on investment in high care accommodation.
“Aged care nurses are paid on average $300 less per week than public hospital nurses.
“Close to 800 bed licences have been returned since Kevin Rudd came to power.
“What else needs to happen before the Rudd Labor Government starts taking an interest in aged care rather than mere rhetoric,” asked Mrs May.