Overview

• Parliament is expected to pass legislation on Thursday to formalise the early release of 20,000 places, to be allocated between September and the end of October.
• The shift follows cross-party pressure on Labor after the July start was postponed to November as part of the broader Support at Home reforms.
• Aged care providers welcomed the move, with Ageing Australia saying services can be delivered immediately across the country.
• Aged Care Minister Sam Rae cautioned that the sector has given mixed signals on capacity and highlighted shortages of highly skilled staff, particularly nurses.
• Official figures cite more than 108,000 people approved and waiting and about 121,000 awaiting assessment, as the government plans a further 20,000 places in November–December and 43,000 in the first half of next year.