Federal Labor must deliver more aged care places for Tasmanians

The Tasmanian Government is backing calls from peak health organisations for action on aged care.

Liberal Member for Lyons, Jane Howlett, said the Tasmanian Government has been strongly advocating for more aged care placements across the State.

“On any given day we have 78 Tasmanians stranded in hospitals because the Federal Labor Government has not provided them an aged care placement,” Ms Howlett said.

“We strongly support the Ageing Australia, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) call for a substantial increase in aged care places across the country.”

There are now over 3,600 patients stranded in state hospitals across Australia waiting for Commonwealth Government aged care placements.

The national number increased from over 2,700 in mid-2025 to over 3,600 in mid-2026:

• Queensland - from 1,076 to 1,272
• NSW - from 750 to 1,027
• South Australia - from 245 to 476
• Western Australia - from 230 to 423
• Victoria - from 226 to 302
• Tasmania - from 55 to 78
• NT - from 76 to 74
• ACT - from 78 to 80

“When patients cannot be discharged to appropriate care, beds in our hospital wards cannot be used and patients wait longer in emergency departments.

“The Federal Government needs to urgently increase aged care capacity, provide more beds, and deliver more Support at Home Packages.

“We call on the Winter-Willie opposition to join us in advocating to the Federal Labor Government.

“Older Tasmanians need to be supported to live fulfilled lives in appropriate settings - they shouldn’t be spending months in a hospital bed because the Federal Government hasn’t provided an aged care place.

“States and territories, both Labor and Liberal, are united on this across the entire nation. Medical professionals are united. Will Labor deliver the aged care places Tasmanians need?”