The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot has defended the Rudd Government’s commitment to aged care in parliament.

Mrs Elliot blamed the Howard Government for neglecting aged care but highlighted her own party’s provision of record funding.

She said that during the government’s recent consultations with frontline health professionals, she had witnessed evidence of neglect from the Coalition.

“We saw a severe lack of funding right across the sector when it comes to aged care,” the Minister said.

“It is this government that has delivered record funding to aged care and delivered increased compliance when it comes to aged care.”

The Minister was responding to a question from Perth MP, Mal Washer, who was asking about the lack of high care investment in his electorate.

Dr Washer said that since the November 2007 election, there had been no applications for new high care places from facilities in his electorate.

Mrs Elliot told Dr Washer that the government would invest over $2.6 billion in Western Australia’s residential aged services over the next four years.

“Indeed, the latest aged-care approvals round saw a total of 1,544 new aged-care places for Western Australia,” the Minister said.

“This consisted of 519 residential aged-care places and 1,025 community care places worth over $50 million in annual recurrent funding.

“In addition, over $10.5 million has been allocated in capital and community care grants to develop and support new services.”