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Mark Butler has been named as the new Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care.
The deputy leader of the lower house was sworn in on Wednesday along with Queensland MP Anika Wells, who was appointed Minister for Aged Care and Sport.
Butler, who has acted as Labor's health spokesperson since 2021, was previously minister for Ageing and Aged Care under the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments.
It was under the Gillard government in 2012 where he ushered in the ‘Living Longer Living Better’ aged care reforms.
The $3.7 billion dollar program rolled out over 10 years and saw the replacement of ‘community care’ with the introduction of home care.
A 2019 independent review of the package concluded it had successfully made the sector more “consumer-driven and sustainable”.
The program’s focus on marketisation, however, has been critiqued for “transferring part of the financial burden from the government to users”.
Following the final report of the royal commission, Butler slammed the Coalition’s handling of workforce issues and rising COVID-19 infections in aged care homes.
“Aged care workers want to provide quality care for their residents, but they are exhausted, undervalued and stretched to their limit and as we saw during the pandemic, they lack the resources they need to take care of vulnerable older Australians,” he wrote in a 2021 statement.
“Only a Labor Government will fix this crisis and give older Australians the care they deserve.”
Butler is considered a senior member of Labor's left faction, previously voting in favour of same-sex marriage equality and a royal commision into violence and abuse against people with disabilities.
As the new aged care minister, Butler will be responsible for overseeing a raft of reforms pledged by Labor during the election.
This includes 24/7 nurses for all residential care facilities, greater financial accountability for providers and better pay for aged care workers.
Speaking to the ABC yesterday, the new Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells said she was “looking forward to getting started”.
“I know that Australians care deeply about fixing aged care,” she said.
“We need tens of thousands more workers in this industry into the coming decades, and I just don’t feel like people who work in aged care or who have considered working in aged care feel that position is valued enough.”
Former nurse Ged Kearney has been appointed Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care.
Clare O’Neil, who was previously Shadow Minister for Aged Care, has moved to the position of Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security.
Peaks want 'ambitious and immediate action'
Following the news, the nation's top aged care organisations have called for immediate reform to be prioritised by the Albanese government.
The Australian Aged Care Collaboration (AACC) said aged care must be nominated as a key issue in the next 100 days to ensure reform is included in upcoming crossbench negotiations.
"The election has helped focus attention on the need for ambitious action for older Australians and for greater respect and better pay for aged care workers," a statement read.
"The care economy was at the heart of the Labor pitch for election and it should be top of its agenda in government.
"We look forward to working in partnership with the new Minister for Aged Care and the whole of government on the transformation needed to deliver better support and care for all older Australians."
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Chris Pearce 1/76 Beacon Hill Road Beacon Hill [email protected] 0468783006
Can you offer advise in how to proceed.
RE- Pension application delay and refusal.
Request by Centrelink not within the legal requirements of the act.
1, August 2022 Rhoda Pearce application for pension.
sept 2022 More documents with JP stamp of validity sent
1 oct 2022 Letter received application for pension successfully received by Centrelink.
24 November 2022 R Pearce Operation for double knee replacement .
Pain endured from double Knee surgery makes R Pearce incapable of attending to computer or phone until 20 dec 2022, when discharged from hospital.
Dr Chia stated during check up on 20 Jan 2023 , Rhoda knees on scale 1 to 10 = 11 worst knees ever. The pain you endure to remain in aged Care work must have been horrific.
21 Nov 2022 letter requesting information not found as busy with preliminaries for hospital admission.
14 Dec 2022 C R Pearce pension reduced from $773 to $583,
checked my gov acc .found first letter since may 2022 requesting obscure information from when I was fully employed in 2012
C R Pearce compiled with request for 450 documents relating to R Pearce employment 2009 to 2022 by 26 Dec 2022 .Public computers only allow 2 hours at a time. Centrelink office closed when hospital visits allowed, www site will only accept 6 documents at a time. 150 documents related to a time when both employed and not receiving any payments from Centrelink
Centrelink quoting social security admistration act 1999 section 63
Relates to newstart allowance .
Pensions in social security act 1991
2099 to 2012 R Pearce on disability pension ,Heart ,Knees .
2012 to 2015 both C.R.Pearce and R Pearce full employed and not on any Centrelink payments.
As of 21/1/2023 pension application refused by Centrelink. Quoting SS Act 1999
Refusal informed by “Amanda from Townsville” recalling a casual conversation she had with pension office.
Phone call from “Amanda from Townsville”( no reference Number or other means that C R Pearce can check validity of Caller that shows Private Number on Phone Screen).
1st call 18/1/2023.
2nd call 20/1/2023 third call promised 24/1/2023 atfer 6 payroll documents uploaded .pension for C Pearce reduced to 440 per forthnight.
Call about possible over payment to C R Pearce, because R Pearce income not being reported by C R Pearce.
When Pension application for C.R Pearce presented in August 2015, Approved in October 2015.
All Centrelink requirements complied with .
Covid Reduced my income to Nil , repeated over a few months . Centrelink advised C R Pearce reporting no longer required.
Claimed by “Amanda from Townsville “Cr Pearce pension reduced 773.4 to 440 due to R Pearce Income .
Advised by Accountants I have been using for 10 years ,with Rhoda income $50000 ,work bonus, that C R Pearce should be receiving pension per fortnight $880
Pain medication for R Pearce at Full Price $23 per 5 days, not pension reduced rate.
24 1 2023 -30 payroll documents up loaded to Centrelink re pension application For Rhoda Pearce.
21 i/2023 Request help from local MP Ms Z Steggell – no response.
Question
Is the only option available to us to separate from our marriage of 44 years , Move from Sydney and Rhoda’s aged care work. Claim full individual pension of $940 plus rental assistance for two occupancies.
Your Faithfully Chris Pearce (labour voter 40 plus years)
Situation now critical
Rhoda Pearce 201831495J 1/76 Beacon Hill Road Beacon Hill [email protected] 0490 008309
RE- Pension application for Rhoda Pearce delay and refusal.
Messaage today via telephone call from Laura of Townsville -NO OVERPAYMENT ,All documents sent , no issues. No repayment required.
Laura from Townsville delayed her return call because she had covid.
THIS HAS LEFT RHODA AND CHRIS PEARCE IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WITH NO MONEY TO PAY RENT OF $1100 ON 9 SEPT 2023. Only payment due $440 aged pension for C Pearce.
31 January 2023 request to review refusal to Grant Aged pension application For Rhoda Pearce sent to Centrelink.
THE REVIEW WENT TO SAME PERSON THAT MADE FIRST WRONG DECISION NOT THE SUPERVISOR.
THIS NOT A REVIEW.