The Australian Government’s delay in releasing 83,000 home care packages until November 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from the aged care sector, with allegations that bureaucratic convenience is being prioritised over the urgent needs of older Australians.
Adjunct Professor Kathy Eager, a respected aged care financial expert, has alleged the delay is driven by a desire for “administrative tidyness.” Eager stated, “I have been asked many times why the government has delayed rolling out the extra 83,000 home care places announced in the budget. My understanding is that the government is delaying providing essential care at home for 83,000 people for only one reason. Administrative tidyness. The Department does not want to approve extra people for a Home Care Package now and then have to convert them to a Support at Home package later. It’s administratively inconvenient. So thousands of people are being denied essential support to allow them to live safely at home.”
This claim suggests the government is hesitant to manage the transition to the forthcoming Support at Home program, leaving over 87,000 elderly Australians on waitlists, some facing delays of up to 15 months.
The prolonged wait times are placing significant strain on the sector, with older Australians experiencing deteriorating health, increased hospitalisations, and premature transitions to residential care.
The delay undermines the government’s pledge to reduce wait times to 90 days by 2027, as the immediate needs of those on the waitlist remain unaddressed. The sector is grappling with the ripple effects, including overburdened service providers and families forced to fill care gaps, often at great personal cost.
The political response has been swift and critical. Independent Senator David Pocock has spearheaded a Senate inquiry, supported by the Greens and the Coalition, to examine the delays and their impact on older Australians. Pocock has highlighted the scale of the crisis, stating, “There is a huge human cost to delaying the release of more home care packages.”
He has also raised concerns about the accuracy of waitlist data, noting that assessment delays further exacerbate the true extent of the backlog, potentially pushing the waitlist to 100,000 by November 2025. The inquiry will scrutinise the government’s readiness for the Single Assessment System and the broader implications for the aged care system.
Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, who will chair the inquiry, has warned of an emerging two-tiered system, where wealthier Australians can access care through substantial refundable accommodation deposits, while those reliant on government support face prolonged delays.
Allman-Payne remarked, “You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire just to guarantee care in your old age, but that’s exactly what’s at risk from Labor’s new aged care system.” Her call for transparency, including access to communications between the Department of Health and the Minister for Aged Care since May 2025, underscores the sector’s demand for accountability.
With the Senate inquiry set to deliver findings by 15 September 2025, the aged care sector is pressing for immediate action to release the promised packages.
The government’s alleged focus on administrative efficiency over human need risks further eroding trust in its aged care reforms, as the sector braces for a surge in demand with Australia’s ageing population projected to double over 65 and triple over 85 within 40 years.
The question remains whether the government will address this crisis with the urgency it demands.
