GOVERNMENT FINALLY REALISES AGED CARE NURSES POLICY FLAW

The Federal Government has realised its promise to deliver 24/7 nurses was nothing more than a pipe dream – something Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has been warning the Government since it flagged the policy whilst in Opposition.

It comes as the Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil admitted in her National Press Club address it was unlikely the Australian health sector would have the capacity to deliver the Albanese Government’s promise due to labour shortages.

The Coalition acknowledges outcomes from the Aged Care Royal Commission, but Mr McCormack said policies had to be weighed against the practical realities of providing care in regional and remote areas where there are labour shortages in every sector.

“Country nursing homes are doing their best to provide excellence in care but cannot be allowed to close and therefore force people to move hundreds of kilometres away simply because of a rule which should not apply at any rate,” he said.

Mr McCormack said he had spoken with several aged care facility operators across the Riverina and Central West and they had conveyed their concerns to him.

“Community-run residential aged care facility operators tell me they face shutting down because there simply aren’t enough nurses to cover Labor’s nonsensical policy, particularly in the regions,” Mr McCormack said.

“Again, it’s regional, remote and rural communities who suffer the most from Labor’s short-sighted and city-centric focus.”

The Labor Government passed legislation in October last year which requires aged care providers to have at least one registered nurse on site and on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week at each facility.

The changes are due to be implemented on 1 July 2023, however, Labor has admitted many facilities would not be able to meet this deadline due to the sector being short of the workers required – reportedly up to 12,000 registered nurses.

“Along with Labor’s appalling decision to change pharmacy dispensing rules, this is another attack on the lifestyles of regional and rural Australians,” Mr McCormack said.

“If you live in rural and regional Australia, Labor doesn’t believe you deserve equitable access to aged care or pharmaceuticals because its policies will likely lead to closures of community-run aged care facilities and pharmacies.

“Under Labor, regional and rural residents are second-class citizens.

“I implore the Ministers for Aged Care and Health to seriously consider what impact these changes will have on the 8.8 million Australians who call regional Australia home.”