Zoe McKenzie asks Sam Rae:

85-year-old Kevin lives by himself and now needs assistance to remain at home. He registered for an assessment for an aged care package in March 2025 but his provider was told by the department that the department couldn’t even get an assessment until “early next year.” Minister, this is despite Kevin being told he’s on the urgent list. Is it really the minister’s position that Australians like Kevin were the ones asking him to de lay the delivery of 83,000 home care packages?

Rae:

I also thank her for raising the matters relating to Kevin. As I extended to a colleague yesterday this this House, if she’s able to provide me with Kevin’s details after Question Time, I will personally follow up and see where Kevin’s matter is at. (INTERJECTIONS) Kevin’s story is a great example of why our reforms are so very important. Our government is driving landmark reforms to in-home care, ensuring older Australians get the care they need in the comfort of their home for as long as as possible. In line with recommendation 28 of the Aged Care Royal Commission, we are delivering a single streamlined assessment process that will help people just like the question refers to.

The new aged care assessment system we’re rolling out is designed to be faster, reduce wait times and improve the experience for older people and… (INTERJECTIONS)

Instead The Leader of The Nationals. of different providers, the new system will make it simpler for older Australians to access the right level of care when and where they need it, especially as their needs change over time.

We recognise, I said this before, that current wait times for aged care assessments are longer than they should be and we’re working hard to address this in every corner of Australia. Median wait time for an aged care needs assessment from when a referral is issued to when a support plan is completed is currently 25 days and these wait times are continuing to reduce under our single assessment system.

…As our population ages the demand for assessments continues to grow. Last year alone, more than 521,000 home support and comprehensive assessments were completed. This is a complex system. The national priority system and assessment lists are related, but different. They can’t be conflated. The assessment wait list contains those seeking lower level care along with…(there is a point of order and then Rae continues)

…The member’s question refers contains those seeking lower level care along with cross-over and duplication of numbers on the national priority system with many waiting for assessment at a high ever level while already receiving home care. Mr Speaker, these stories are exactly why we are reforming this system from the ground up. Big reforms don’t happen overnight but we are working hand in hand with assessment organisations, including states an territories, to minimise impacts to older Australians and get them the care they deserve.

David Littleproud is also warned in this answer. Dugald Dick is NOT playing today.