the Aged Care Today magazine featured articles

For many months we worked assiduously with all sides of politics to deliver this incredibly important outcome. Yet on more than a few occasions it seemed that the chance had slipped away only to re-emerge days or weeks later. As late as 11 September 2024, an inauspicious date to say the least, the media seemed to have called time on the bill. Yet just one day later, the deal was done and the Act was finally introduced.

So what happened? And more importantly, what changed?

The week had commenced with a blaze of publicity from ACCPA, highlighting this as the last possible opportunity to ensure an Act could be passed before the election. While negotiation between the government and opposition had been genuine and had resulted in significant improvements to the bill, we were crystal clear in our public messaging that there could be no more delay.

In multiple discussions over the weekend and into Monday with ministers, shadow ministers and advisers, I felt the government and opposition were approaching an agreement. Every question seemed to have been answered, every issue appeared to have been resolved.

And then the cracks started to show. Articles in national newspapers on Monday and Tuesday quoted opposition backbenchers breaking cover to voice concern over the impact of the reforms on older people. Following a party room meeting early on Tuesday, the news came that the opposition would be deferring further discussion on whether to support the reform until October.

We knew that an October introduction would be too late for there to be any realistic chance of parliamentary passage before the election. We had until Thursday (the last sitting day of the House until October) to get the bill introduced.

Just after dawn on Wednesday, I appeared live on Sunrise (Channel 7) followed by ABC Breakfast to make my last pitch to the wavering backbenchers. I made clear that any parliamentarian who sat on their hands and allowed this reform to fail would have to explain to their electorates why aged care homes and homecare providers were closing when there was something they could have done to stop it.

We rallied our members to urgently re-engage with the politicians they had been meeting with over the previous months. And our government relations team spent the day talking to as many MPs and Senators as possible to reiterate just how critical the reforms were and just how terrible the situation would become without them.

By the end of Wednesday, the entire sector waited with bated breath – and there was barely an unchewed fingernail remaining in the ACCPA team.

Then on Thursday morning, just after 9am, the texts and calls began. Something had shifted. An urgent Liberal party room meeting had been called. And finally, word came that the opposition had finally given its support.

The Prime Minister, Treasurer and Aged Care Minister stood up at a lunchtime press conference to make the public announcement and the relief was palpable. Soon after, the Bill was introduced.

You may wonder why we are so excited about the introduction of the Bill – after all, it isn’t even law yet. But it’s important to reflect on how unlikely a Bill like this even is.

A few years ago, it would have been completely unthinkable for a government to introduce a Bill calling on older Australians to contribute more towards the cost of their services where they can afford to do so.

The chances of bipartisan support for such a Bill would have been less than zero. And yet, that is what we have.

So now the complex and difficult work of getting the Bill through parliament has begun.

We’ve won several victories already – implementation of the Financial Sustainability Taskforce recommendations and the removal of criminal penalties being the most critical – but there is more still to do to ensure the final Act is the best it can be for older people.

But thanks to the incredible efforts of those on both the government and opposition front benches, our members, the faith-based peaks and my fantastic team, I fervently hope the greatest challenge is now behind us.