The Abbott Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) has dashed the hope of local residents waiting for a replacement for the axed Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement, Opposition Leader and Member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten said today.

 

“Despite promises from Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield to develop an alternative, the Government’s mini-Budget shows all traces of the supplement funding have been removed,” he said.

 

“On numerous occasions, the Minister indicated that the money previously used to fund the $16 a day supplement could go to an alternative form of support. The MYEFO shows that this is just yet another broken promise.”

 

Mr Shorten said Minister Fifield’s most recent commitments to find an alternative were just weeks ago:

 

Advice has been provided to me, and we are currently consulting with the Aged Care Sector Committee to look for what might be a good and practical thing that government can do within the original funding envelope. I think that is the right approach.

 

SENATOR FIFIELD – SPEECH, AUSTRALIAN SENATE - 24 NOVEMBER 2014

 

“Minister Fifield needs to come clean and explain to local residents living with dementia, their families and local aged care providers what his real intentions are.”

 

“Labor will continue to fight the Government’s vicious cuts, and support the health and wellbeing of every Australian.”