COTA Australia, the peak body for over half a million older Australians, today welcomed the introduction of legislation into Federal Parliament to implement the Government’ s Living Longer Living Better (LLLB ) reform package.
“It’s almost 12 months since the LLLB package was announced in April 2012, so this legislation is long awaited, but very welcome” said COTA Australia Chief Executive, Ian Yates AM.
Mr Yates said the legislation was a vital step in promised changes to aged care being put into action, given that providers, consumers, union s and professionals have been working hard for months now with government on detailed planning of implementation of the reforms.
“The legislation finally puts the detail of the reforms on the table so that we can look at it as a whole to ensure that the changes will fully meet the expectations of older people and their families,” he said.
“These reforms will result in lots more in – home care services which support the majority of older people who prefer to stay in their own familiar environments, close to friends and family, for as long as possible.
“When the legislation passes we’ll also see older people have more say in the kind of age d care and support services they receive, where they get them, and who delivers them for too long older people and their families have had to take what was on offer whether or not it suited their needs.
“In addition the creation of the Aged Care Gateway will provide information and support, and in due course access to timely and appropriate assessment of needs, which will reduce the angst for families struggling to find the services and support their loved ones need.
“In addition the reforms will provide sustainable financial foundations for the aged care industry into the future, due to stronger but fairer user charges for those who can afford to pay”, said Ian Yates.
“Older people and their families will be urging all parliamentarians to support this legislation so we can see these changes rolled out to improve aged care for the growing number of older Australians.
“These reforms aren’t perfect, as we have said since April 2012, but they are a good first step in the direction s recommended by the Productivity Commission to develop a system with greater choice and higher quality of service for older Australians, which ought to be their right, not a favour as is too often the case now.
“These reforms deserve the support of all political parties and the Independents so they are in place well before 30 June this year to provide certainty as we move forward on reform,” Mr Yates said.
Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439 ; Jane Garcia 0434 489 533.
