Inspector-General Natalie Siegel-Brown warns Australian aged‑care reforms cause harm

In her final public address as Australia’s inaugural Inspector‑General of Aged Care, Natalie Siegel‑Brown criticised the implementation of the Albanese Government’s aged‑care reforms. Speaking at the National Press Club, she praised the rights‑based Aged Care Act but said the reality falls short, with the Support at Home program discouraging use through co‑payments, long waiting lists and complex administration.

Siegel‑Brown warned that more than 200,000 older Australians are waiting for home‑care, leading to health decline and higher costs when they eventually require hospital or residential care. She highlighted that residential care costs taxpayers about $123,000 per person annually versus roughly $30,000 for home care, and argued that the current design pushes people toward the more expensive option. The Inspector‑General called for early‑intervention funding, better‑targeted budgets and removal of financial barriers to keep older people living independently.

Her remarks come as the government has made minor adjustments to the program, but she says the broader design problem remains unresolved.