The Federal Government is facing growing scrutiny over rising home care fees, as concerns emerge that some older Australians may be cutting back on essential services under the new aged care settings.
In an end-of-year interview on the ABC’s Insiders, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was questioned about reports that home care clients are reducing services, such as personal care, due to higher consumer contributions. The issue comes amid the rollout of Labour’s long-promised aged care reforms, introduced as part of efforts to address longstanding system failures.
The Prime Minister said the Government would continue to “monitor” and “review” the impact of the new arrangements to ensure they are working as intended. The issue is also expected to be closely examined through the upcoming Support at Home Program Senate Inquiry, which will assess whether older Australians can continue to access safe and dignified care at home.Submissions to the inquiry close on 31 July 2026, with findings due in November 2026, keeping aged care firmly in the political spotlight.