Greens motion for aged care support backed by Senate

The Senate has supported a Greens motion urging the Government to address the widening gap in funding for Australia's aged care sector.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Health and Ageing said today the recent increase in the Commonwealth aged care subsidy of just 1.7 per cent failed to even match the increased consumer price index figure of 2.8 per cent for the provision of aged care services.

"Today's Senate vote makes it clear that the Government must take immediate action to relieve the financial stress being faced by many aged care organisations," Senator Siewert said today.

"The sector is facing a constant barrage of cost increases, the funding gap is widening every day and yet Federal assistance is not being adjusted accordingly.

"The Greens have called on the Government to restore the 2 per cent conditional adjustment payment as an interim measure to address the crisis in aged care- a move which has received the backing of the Senate.

"Our motion in the Senate also highlighted the blow-out in electricity and utility costs, which have increased 18.8% for aged care service providers in recent times.

"Such increases dramatically impact an organisation's ability to remain viable, retain staff and utilise their full quota of allocated aged care places.

"The restoration of the conditional adjustment payment is a necessary first step to keep aged care services afloat and should be followed by systemic reform.

"Effective reform of our aged care sector is something the Greens have pursued strongly in recent times, and it remains a priority for us in the new Parliament," concluded Senator Siewert.