29 June 2018
Member for Roe Peter Rundle has welcomed the Labor Government’s funding for aged care projects across Roe that will allow regional senior citizens to remain in their communities.
Broomehill, Cranbrook, Katanning and Kojonup communities will share in $13.1 million to build and expand accommodation, while the Cuballing, Wickepin and Narrogin communities will receive a share of $160 000 to further develop business cases for aged care projects.
Mr Rundle said that he was pleased the McGowan Government had finally started supporting the aging population in regional Western Australia.
“Many of these projects were meant to have commenced more than 12 months ago, but were forced to wait on previous commitments after the Labor Government ordered a review of RfR funding,” Mr Rundle said.
“$46.2 million worth of aged care projects was cut in the 2017-18 budget, forcing hundreds of seniors to seek accommodation away from their communities.
“I’m very pleased that the Labor Government have reinstated some of this funding, because it is absolutely imperative that we continue to prioritise aged housing.”
When in Government The Nationals WA commissioned the Ageing in the Bush study, which identified aged car solutions to allow seniors living in regional WA to access better care and to allow them to ‘age in place’.
The report guided over $70 million of Royalties for Regions investment in aged care, including over $25 million towards aged housing in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern.
“These projects allow our elderly and senior citizens to remain affordably living in the communities they love, close to family, friends and health services,” Mr Rundle said.
“Unfortunately Labor’s continued erosion of the Royalties for Regions program to pay for core government services means less and less money is available for these vital community projects.”
