HCP delays: Elderly Australians left waiting as Government prioritises ‘Administrative tidiness’

The Australian Government’s decision to delay the release of 83,000 home care packages until November 2025 has sparked significant concern within the aged care sector, with critics arguing it prioritises administrative convenience over the urgent needs of older Australians.

Adjunct Professor Kathy Eager, an aged care financial expert, has pointedly alleged the delay stems from a desire for “administrative tidyness.” Eager, a well respected figure in the aged care sector, revealed some startling revelations regarding the home care package delays in a post on LinkedIn.

“I have been asked many times why the government has delayed rolling out the extra 83,000 home care places announced in the budget. My understanding is that the government is delaying providing essential care at home for 83,000 people for only one reason. Administrative tidyness. The Department does not want to approve extra people for a Home Care Package now and then have to convert them to a Support at Home package later. It’s administratively inconvenient. So thousands of people are being denied essential support to allow them to live safely at home.”

This claim suggests a bureaucratic reluctance to manage the transition to the new Support at Home program, leaving over 87,000 elderly Australians on waitlists, some facing delays of up to 15 months.

The human impact of this delay is profound, with prolonged wait times exacerbating health risks and reducing independence for older Australians. The sector is acutely aware of the strain on families and the increased pressure on hospitals and residential care facilities, as delayed access to home care often leads to preventable health crises or premature institutionalisation. The government’s commitment to reducing wait times to 90 days by 2027 offers little immediate relief for those currently in need.

Politically, the delay has drawn sharp criticism. Independent Senator David Pocock has been vocal in his condemnation, securing support from the Greens and the Coalition for a Senate inquiry to investigate the impact of the delayed rollout and the government’s refusal to release an additional 20,000 packages in the interim.

Pocock has highlighted the scale of the crisis, noting, “There are currently 87,000 people on the waiting list for a home care package at their assessed need, with some experts predicting this will grow to 100,000 by 1 November.” He has also raised concerns about assessment delays, which further inflate wait times and are not reflected in official statistics, underscoring the need for urgent action to meet the 2027 target.

Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, set to chair the inquiry, has expressed alarm over the potential for a two-tiered aged care system, where wealthier individuals benefit from refundable accommodation deposits while those reliant on government support face inequitable access. Allman-Payne has stated, “You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire just to guarantee care in your old age, but that’s exactly what’s at risk from Labor’s new aged care system.”

Her call for transparency, including a request for all communications between the Department of Health and the Minister for Aged Care since May 2025, reflects deep sector frustration with the pace and equity of the reforms.

The Senate inquiry, due to report by 15 September 2025, will examine the impact on older Australians, service providers, and health systems, as well as the readiness of the Single Assessment System. The sector awaits clarity on whether the government will address these delays with the urgency they demand, or if administrative priorities will continue to overshadow the needs of Australia’s ageing population.