The 2018 Federal Budget, handed down by Treasurer Scott Morrison on 8 May, contains some
additional funding for home based aged care but no specific provisions for the environmental modifications which will support it. A greater commitment to funding suitable housing needs to underpin the push toward reform in aged care. There are no specific housing-related measures for older people in the budget, but some allocation has been made toward
housing and homelessness generally. This includes funding for the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement due to start in July 2018, and money for various infrastructure projects across the country. Clearly any funding to build better housing is welcome, but MOD.A is concerned that there does not appear to be an adequate focus on the development of age-friendly, suitable housing within general housing budget allocations, and it does not appear to be prioritised within aged care allocations.
