23 September 2024

How can we recognise the value of Australian citizenship more?

September 17 was Australian Citizenship day, but it went unnoticed by most. Yet alongside gender and Indigeneity, multiculturalism stands as the third dimension of our national identity. The date is the anniversary of the renaming, in 1973, of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948.

15 March 2024

Aged Care funding taskforce fails to do its task

There is no argument that funding for aged care has to increase or that equitable funding requires that those with higher means pay more. The recommendations of the Aged Care Funding Taskforce fail to provide solutions on both counts, for older people needing care and their carers, providers, taxpayers, or government.

11 February 2024

Charging for aged care at home splitting hairs and shifting loads

A number of commentators have proposed that the Aged Care Funding Taskforce would, and indeed should, recommend increasing user charges. With particular reference to services delivered through Commonwealth Home Care Program (CHSP), this step would be achieved by splitting care services and ordinary daily living supports; the former would be subsidised and clients would pay for the latter if delivered through CHSP or turn to the market. Seems simple? A closer look at CHSP suggests any attempt to increase revenue from client contributions might not be worth the effort and give rise to several policy and practical contradictions.