The government has hosed down demands for big new spending in welfare as it revealed the aged care budget was on track to blow out by nearly $5 billion this year alone.
, but he will not increase JobSeeker, as Labor grapples with a $50 billion structural budget deficit and high inflation.“While we can’t fund every good idea, there will be measures in the May budget to address disadvantage,” Dr Chalmers said. “This will include energy bill price relief that prioritises those on payments and pensions.”Independent senator David Pocock said the committee’s findings were clear, and that it was unacceptable the government did not do more to help welfare recipients.
Forecasts suggest the number of people aged 65 and older will increase by almost 2 per cent in the next decade. Both changes were recommendations from the scathing aged care royal commission report, which found “a shocking tale of neglect” in the system.Workforce shortages of about 25,000 people are expected next financial year, growing to about 38,000 by 2024-25.But Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said elderly Australians deserved safe and high-quality care, even if it came at a significant price.
“Within the considerable constraints we’re facing on the budget right now, we’ll do what we can to help Australians, and we’ll do it in a targeted, methodical, responsible and affordable way.”The revelation of the aged care budget blowout comes as Labor faces renewed pressure to raise welfare payments from its economic inclusion advisory committee.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chalmers says Reserve Bank overhaul will be significantHow the Reserve Bank of Australia governor and board set and communicate interest rate decisions faces the biggest shake up since the bank gained independence in the early 1990s.
Read more »
Chalmers optimistic about China trade relationshipTreasurer Jim Chalmers is hopeful that the relationship between Canberra and Beijing can continue to strengthen, contingent on sanctions being dropped.
Read more »
Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are a ‘great combination’Former Labor minister Graham Richardson says Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are a “great combination”. “They are both well qualified in economics, they understand the issues, they understand ordinary Australians and what they’re after,” Mr Richardson told Sky News Australia. “If you look at them, they’ve never moved far from home, they continue to live in their electorates, they never chose to move to some flasher part of town and I think that says a lot about both of them.”
Read more »
Chalmers warns budget to forecast years of weak economic growthTreasurer Jim Chalmers is warning the Albanese government's upcoming budget will forecast two years of weak global economic growth. The federal budget is being finalised ahead of its handing down in three weeks. The government has flagged energy, industry and care, as well as cost of living relief and a push for further resilience to international economic uncertainty as the budget's focus.
Read more »
‘Most substantial investment’ in clean and cheap energy: Jim Chalmers upcoming budgetTreasurer Jim Chalmers says the upcoming budget to be handed down in the second week of May will be the “most substantial investment” in cleaner and cheaper energy than seen before. “Cleaner and cheaper energy is absolutely central to our growth strategy for the Australian economy,” Mr Chalmers said. “The whole world is moving in this direction in one way or another – we want to be beneficiaries not victims of what’s happening around the world and that’s why we’re putting such a big emphasis on it.”
Read more »
Chalmers seeks bipartisan support for RBA reformsMajor changes to the way the Reserve Bank operates and manages the economy will hinge on the federal government winning support from the Coalition, with Treasurer Chalmers declaring he doesn't want the Senate pulling apart any reforms to the institution.
Read more »