Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The honourable member opposite has very short memory. As I recall—and I was about and he was not—that it was the Howard government that actually moved the very substantial changes to aged care in Australia. It took it out of a cottage industry and into the modern, sophisticated sector that it is today. I encourage the honourable member opposite to have perhaps a closer check with the history of what has happened in this regard.

Coming to the question of the Aged Care Workforce Supplement, I can tell the honourable member opposite that over the five years from 2013-14, $1.5 billion will be redirected to providers through a number of measures. Firstly, a 2.4 per cent increase in care subsidies and grant payments for eligible aged-care programs from 1 July 2014. All programs previously eligible for the workforce supplement will receive this funding. These increases are on top of normal indexation and will replace payments that would have been available under the previous workforce supplement.

Secondly, a 20 per cent—

Mr Neumann interjecting—

Does the honourable member want to listen to the answer or not?

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