Andrew Wilkie speaks on the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment) Bill

Australia is wealthy. There’s no doubt that the Federal Government can afford to properly fund Home Care Packages, ensure residential aged care is safe and comfortable, and ensure our wonderful…

Digital divide discriminates

Opinion piece published in the Sunday Tasmanian 11 Oct 2020 It’s getting harder to find a real person to talk to these days at government agencies like Centrelink, Medicare and…

The Wilkie Report September 2020 – Federal Budget

This year’s Federal Budget will be one of the most important in our history. So it must be bold and fair, bold in that we need to restore the economy,…

Feds flying blind on aged care in Tasmania

“Prime Minister, the Mercury newspaper reports that there have been no unannounced safety checks at Tasmanian residential aged care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. “By comparison the aged care regulator…

The right to age in place

We deserve our choice of retirement. The majority of older Australians will tell you they want to see out their retirements in their own homes. I saw the benefits of…

NDIS must stop discriminating against older Australians

Deputy Speaker having a disability makes life hard enough but, if you’re 65 or older, it can be a disaster because older Australians are not allowed to enter the National…

Medicare rebate must be increased

According to the Tasmanian Council of Social Service ‘the median age of death in Tasmania’s most disadvantaged neighbourhood is 66, compared to 84 in the State’s most advantaged neighbourhood.’ This…

Apology is due to those dudded by Robodebt

The decision today by the Department of Human Services to stop using the deeply flawed Robodebt process, where debts are raised purely from averaging ATO income data, is a welcome…

Aged Care Royal Commission finally comes to Hobart

The Aged Care Royal Commission will today begin its hearings in Hobart to investigate how older people are cared for, and what must be done to make these services better.…