Anthony Albanese's promise to support the Health Services Union Fair Work Commission case for a 25 per cent wage increase for aged care would provide a massive boost to the workforce, support attraction and retention of staff and improve quality of care.
HSU National President, Gerard Hayes said:
"The great unresolved crisis in aged care is wages. Until the Commonwealth Government commits to pay aged care workers a decent wage this crisis will only get worse.
"Today we see a clear difference emerge between the major parties. Mr Albanese's declaration of support for the HSU case to lift aged care wages is hugely significant.
"In the short term it will lift the spirits of aged care workers. But in the longer term we need to lift wages to allow more workers to stay in the industry and stem the short staffing crisis.
"We're into our third year of this pandemic and an exhausted aged care workforce who can earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket are barely holding on.
"Scott Morrison and Richard Colbeck have been warned that staff shortages are at catastrophic levels but it seems the cricket takes precedence."
Gerard Hayes 0417 275 821
