Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (13:00): My question is for the Minister for Ageing. Data from the Productivity Commission shows that it now takes older Australians 22 per cent longer to be assessed for home care services compared to 2023. Currently the wait period for these services can take up to 380 days for approval, and once approved, it takes a median of 245 days for services to commence. This amounts to two-thirds of a year; in many cases, it takes a year to begin. I have received significant concern and worry from elderly citizens from Werribee and Brimbank who have reached out to me. Therefore, my question is: can the minister please update my constituents on what advocacy the minister has taken with her federal counterpart in Canberra to accelerate the wait period for older Victorians needing care at home? These citizens and individuals deserve better, more timely support services than the treatment they are currently receiving. I look forward to the minister’s update for my constituents.