Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan has criticised the Albanese Government over its troubled Support at Home program, after a Senate inquiry exposed serious failures in the rollout of the new system.

Mr Tehan said the evidence confirmed what aged care providers, seniors and families across Wannon had been warning for months, Labor’s rushed rollout is making it harder for older Australians to access the care they need while placing additional pressure on the organisations delivering those services.

“Our older Australians deserve an aged care system that puts their needs first, not one that buries them in bureaucracy and leaves providers struggling to keep up,” Mr Tehan said.

“Many people across Wannon want to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. They should have confidence that when they need support, the system will work for them, not against them.”

The first full-day hearing of the Senate inquiry heard evidence from providers, peak bodies and academics that Labor’s Support at Home program is producing unintended and damaging consequences.

Witnesses told the inquiry that a rigid, algorithm-based assessment tool is overriding clinical judgement and failing to properly recognise the individual needs of older Australians.

The inquiry also heard that Labor’s hardship scheme is so complex that many vulnerable seniors are unable to access it. Providers described the application process as lengthy, confusing and intimidating, with very few applications ultimately being approved.

Mr Tehan said this was particularly concerning for regional communities such as Wannon, where many older Australians live independently and may have limited access to family support or advocacy.

“Older Australians shouldn’t have to navigate a mountain of paperwork just to receive the care they have earned,” Mr Tehan said.

The inquiry also heard evidence that so-called “grandfathering” arrangements are failing to deliver Labor’s promise that existing participants would be no worse off, with hidden administration costs reducing the amount of care people can actually receive.

Providers also warned that the complexity of the new system is driving up administrative costs while making the program increasingly difficult to operate. Evidence presented to the inquiry showed provider margins have fallen dramatically, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of home care services.

Mr Tehan said regional aged care providers were already operating under significant workforce and financial pressures, and Labor’s implementation of the new program risked making those challenges even worse.

“Our local aged care providers want to spend their time caring for older Australians, not dealing with unnecessary bureaucracy created by Canberra,” Mr Tehan said.

“The Albanese Government was warned that rushing this reform would create serious problems. The Senate inquiry has now confirmed those warnings were justified.”

Mr Tehan said the Government should urgently support the Coalition’s legislation to restore human oversight to aged care needs assessments, simplify the hardship process, and address the additional costs being imposed on older Australians and aged care providers.

“Our seniors deserve dignity, certainty and access to the care they need. The Government must stop ignoring the warning signs and fix this broken rollout before more older Australians are left worse off.”

ENDS

Media contact: Sandie Gustus M | 0408 564 232 E | sandie.gustus@aph.gov.au