Senate Nears Labor Defeat Over Immediate Release of 20,000 Aged Care Packages

The Albanese government is facing significant pressure in the Senate over delays in releasing home care packages for older Australians, with the Coalition, Greens, and independent senators uniting to demand the immediate release of 20,000 packages. More than 121,000 people are waiting for assessments, and about 87,000 have been approved but are yet to receive care, highlighting a major backlog in aged care services. These groups have proposed amendments to the government's aged care legislation to front-load funding and accelerate package distribution ahead of the Support at Home program launch, which has been delayed until November. The government argues that additional time is needed to prepare providers for the new system, but opponents criticize this as unacceptable given the urgent needs of vulnerable seniors and the strain on the healthcare system. The Senate vote on these amendments is expected to result in a defeat for Labor, potentially delaying the bill's passage as it would return to the House of Representatives. This standoff marks a notable Senate showdown early in the new term, underscoring the political and social urgency around aged care reform in Australia.