Reform: fighting to the end
First there was the launch of the NACA Blueprint for Aged Care Reform. Now as crunch time looms close, NACA is calling for supporters to don badges and fill the public gallery at question time at Parliament House.
“This time it can’t wait.” Above: Ian Yates at the launch of the NACA Blueprint for Aged Care reform on 8 February
By Keryn Curtis
Question time at Parliament House is the next platform for National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) advocates in their bid to secure much needed reform for the aged care system in Australia.
The coalition of twenty-eight peak aged care organisations is urging supporters to join them in the public gallery of the House of Representatives during question time in Canberra next Wednesday 14 March as a show of strength and commitment to reforms they say are urgent and must be addressed in the May budget.
Senior representatives of NACA member groups will again be visiting politicians at Parliament House on the 13th and 14th to continue to push their message. According to NACA spokesperson and COTA CEO, Ian Yates, the question time event will be held to cap off these meetings and demonstrate the urgency of the situation and the breadth of public support.
“We are getting toward the end of the campaign now. Next week is the second last week of the sitting period before the budget and it’s crunch time. So this is one of a whole range of measures that the Alliance and campaign members are taking to remind the government – and all politicians – that aged care reform is long overdue and this time it can’t wait,” said Mr Yates.
Mr Yates said it was imperative to maintain the pressure on decision makers because aged care reform had an unfortunate history of being postponed and overlooked in previous budgets.
“We have to do this because we are at such a serious point in time now. Does the government really think the sector can wear another Aged Care Approvals Round with virtually no community care packages and nobody taking up bed licenses?
“The Productivity Commission (PC) outlined a five year plan for reform and that plan needs to start now. There is concern across the sector that the Minister has had the PC report for seven months and really the Government should have flagged its response by now, which we expect to be largely one of support.
“But it cannot wait. It must happen in the 2012 budget. We are approaching the tipping point and the government can avoid that by acting now; or it can fall into it which is what will happen is it doesn’t act,” said Mr Yates.
Mr Yates said there was no downside and every upside to acting now since a commitment to the reforms did not necessarily mean a huge financial outlay in a challenging 2012 budget setting.
“These reforms are about structural and cultural change as well as financial change and there’s no reason why the Government can’t commit to a phased plan. It’s the same as the National Disability Insurance Scheme – the Government has made a commitment to that and we are asking the same thing for aged care. The commitment needs to be given now. It makes no sense for the government not to act now.
“If it doesn’t, then the government will rightly feel the anger of a very united sector between now and the next election. We won’t go away , we will keep demanding aged care reform until we get it.,” he said.
Be part of history
Above: The agewell campaign badge
NACA is seeking a minimum of 140 supporters to don the 10 cm campaign badges and help fill the public gallery in the House of Representatives next Wednesday 14 March.
Mr Yates says the response so far has been strong and that additional seats in the public gallery may be booked to meet higher demand.
People wishing to join the event should register by emailing llovell@cota.org.au
Participants are being asked to assemble in the marble foyer at the entrance of Parliament House at 1pm to enable sufficient time for groups to be processed through the security system. All participants are asked to wear a plain coloured shirt or top to ensure the badge can be clearly seen. Question time commences at 2pm.
Afternoon tea will be served in a marquee on the lawn out the front of Parliament House from 3.30 to 5pm. There will be microphones and guests will be encouraged to share their stories about ageing and their ideas about ageing well.
Posters and placards will be available. Those people unable to attend the question time event are welcome to join NACA members and supporters for the afternoon tea.
For more information and to pledge your support for NACA’s Agewell campaign, go to http://agewellcampaign.com.au/
Good on NACA. The fact that the Minister has had the PC report for seven months without the government flagging its response is disappointing even for a sector used to having its reform expectations dashed. Perhaps it’s time for an enquiry into the delay of the response and the Prime Minister can declare aged care a third term issue.