In a recent shake-up of Australia’s federal government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese created a dedicated Minister for Ageing position as part of a cabinet reshuffle. This marks the first time in years that ageing and seniors’ issues have a distinct voice at the Cabinet table.

Following Labor’s election victory, long-time Health Minister Mark Butler saw his role expanded – he is now the Minister for Health and Ageing, elevating “Ageing” to a Cabinet-level portfolio.

At the same time, a new Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, 38-year-old Victorian MP Sam Rae, was appointed to focus on aged care services and seniors’ welfare, albeit in an outer-ministry role.



For Australians over 60, these changes raise an important question: what practical differences will a Minister for Ageing make in our lives?

From aged care reforms and healthcare access to retirement income security and social inclusion, older Australians are eager to see how this ministerial appointment translates into real-world benefits. Advocacy groups like National Seniors Australia have long called for a dedicated Minister for Older Australians, viewing the new role as a welcome recognition of the needs of an ageing population.

“This change signifies that government understands the importance and needs of an ageing population,” said National Seniors CEO Chris Grice, applauding the inclusion of “Ageing” in a senior minister’s title. Australians are living longer and healthier lives than past generations – around 16% of Australians are now aged 65 and over, a proportion expected to grow to 22% by 2057. With baby boomers swelling the ranks of senior Australians, the timing seems right for a stronger focus on ageing policy.

But what exactly can seniors expect to change? Let’s explore the key areas – aged care, health services, retirement income, and social inclusion – and the potential impacts of this new ministerial focus.

Aged Care Reforms: Continuity and Challenges​

One of the most immediate areas of concern for older Australians is aged care. The new Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, steps into the role at a crucial time: a suite of “once-in-a-generation” aged care reforms is due to take effect on 1 July 2025. This includes a new Aged Care Act – a rights-based law stemming from the Aged Care Royal Commission’s recommendations – and the introduction of the Support at Home program to streamline in-home care services.

Essentially, the government is unifying home care packages and community support into a single system intended to be more flexible and person-centred. In theory, this should make it easier for older people to get help to remain in their own homes. However, aged care providers have sounded the alarm that the sector is not fully prepared for the July 1 start date. In an open letter to the incoming minister, one provider group warned that unfinished program rules, unclear pricing, and untested IT systems mean “providers are being asked to fly a plane that hasn’t been built yet”.

They urged the government to stagger the rollout of the new home care program to avoid a chaotic transition that could confuse older Australians and overwhelm providers.

The decision to move the aged care portfolio out of Cabinet – with Sam Rae serving as an outer-ministry minister – has drawn mixed reactions. On one hand, Prime Minister Albanese explained that aged care will still have a strong voice through Mark Butler’s Cabinet role overseeing “Health and Ageing,” with Rae operating within that remit. According to the Prime Minister, aged care is fundamentally part of health, and he’s confident he has “the right people in the right place” to deliver on reforms. On the other hand, some advocates worry about a loss of status.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), a national elder rights group, welcomed the new ministerial team but openly expressed disappointment that aged care is no longer represented by a Cabinet minister. “It is disappointing to see that aged care is no longer the responsibility of a cabinet minister, and we urge the government not to deprioritise aged care reform at this crucial stage,” OPAN CEO Craig Gear said. He noted that older Australians have “waited too long” for their rights to be enshrined in the new Aged Care Act, and called on the government to stick to the reform timeline.

Despite the shift in structure, the government insists its commitment to aged care remains “crystal clear.” Minister Mark Butler has stated unequivocally that his task is “to strengthen Medicare, protect the PBS, deliver generational reform to aged care, and secure the future of the NDIS”. For seniors, the proof will be in the pudding. Will the coming reforms actually fix long-standing issues in aged care? Major challenges persist: aged care providers face workforce shortages and financial strain, and many older Australians still experience long wait times for home care packages and variability in care quality.

National Seniors Australia has urged the new minister to prioritise cutting wait times for in-home care to under three months, so that elderly people aren’t left stranded without support. Likewise, aged care providers and consumer groups want to ensure the reform rollout does not falter. “Failure is not an option. If we don’t get this right, we risk widespread confusion for older Australians and a loss of confidence in the sector as a whole,” warned Tom Symondson, CEO of industry peak body Ageing Australia.

On a positive note, stakeholders see an upside in the expanded “Ageing” focus of the Cabinet minister. It signals that the government’s view of caring for older Australians isn’t confined just to nursing homes or home care services. As Anglicare Australia’s Executive Director Kasy Chambers put it, “We welcome the focus on seniors alongside aged care. This shows the government understands that ageing with dignity goes beyond aged care and touches on issues that affect all older people – like housing, income and mental health”.

In other words, having a Minister for Ageing in Cabinet could mean broader issues of ageing are considered in tandem with health and care reforms. For the 2.7 million Australians who are aged 75 and over – a number growing each year – these high-level policy decisions are not abstract. They determine everything from the quality of care in aged care facilities to how soon you can get help to modify your home or access respite care.

The coming months will be telling, as Minister Rae works with Minister Butler to implement the new Aged Care Act and home care program. Their performance will directly impact whether older Australians see improvements in care standards, safety, and the respect of their rights in daily life.

Health Services: Medicare, Medicines and Preventive Care​

Health is the area where many seniors may first notice changes – or at least, hope to. By adding “Ageing” to Mark Butler’s title, the government signaled that Australia’s ageing population will be a core consideration in health policy. So what might that look like in practice? For one, Minister Butler has pledged to “strengthen Medicare”, a promise with real significance for older Australians. Medicare is the lifeblood of our health system, and seniors – who typically visit GPs and specialists more frequently – stand to benefit from any bolstering of its funding and accessibility. In the past year, the government has taken steps to make Medicare more senior-friendly: for example, bulk-billing incentives for doctors have been tripled for pensioners and other concession card holders, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket GP costs.

There’s also a new Medicare rebate for longer consultations, encouraging doctors to spend more time with patients who have complex chronic conditions (a common scenario for older patients). Maintaining and expanding such initiatives will likely be a priority as the Minister for Health and Ageing works to ensure the system meets seniors’ needs.

Another concrete focus is on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – hence Butler’s mantra to “protect the PBS”. The cost of medications is a significant burden for many retirees managing multiple prescriptions. Recent policy changes have been welcomed by seniors: the PBS co-payment (the amount patients pay for medicines) was lowered to $30, and from 2023 the government introduced 60-day medicine dispensing, allowing many medications to be dispensed in 2-month lots for a single co-payment.

These changes mean fewer trips to the chemist and less money spent on scripts for those with chronic illnesses. Protecting the PBS likely means the Minister will resist any cuts to medicine subsidies and continue adding new drugs to the scheme as they become available. It could also entail monitoring the impact of the 60-day dispensing policy to ensure it indeed benefits patients without harming local pharmacies (a balance that was much debated when the policy was announced).

Beyond GP visits and medications, hospitals and specialist care are critical for seniors. A Cabinet-level Minister for Ageing might push for smoother integration between hospitals and aged care services – for instance, reducing the dreaded ambulance “ramping” where older patients get stuck waiting in hospital emergency departments because of delays in transferring to aged care or back home. National Seniors has highlighted the hospital-aged care interface as an area for improvement.

An elderly patient’s journey from hospital discharge to home care or rehab can be fraught with confusion; better coordination could mean fewer people falling through the cracks or facing long waits for rehab beds and support services after a hospital stay. It’s reasonable to expect the Health and Ageing Minister to work on these gaps, especially with an Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care (Tasmanian MP Rebecca White) now also on the team to lend a hand.

Preventive health and allied health services are another piece of the puzzle. The government’s messaging around “healthy ageing” may translate into programs that help seniors stay well and independent longer. This could include everything from vaccination programs (like flu and COVID boosters targeted at over-65s) to subsidised allied health visits (physiotherapy, podiatry, dental care – areas where Medicare coverage is currently limited). In fact, dental care for seniors is emerging as a hot topic.

Unlike many OECD countries, Australia doesn’t have universal dental coverage, and older people on fixed incomes often neglect dental treatment due to cost. Council on the Ageing (COTA) has flagged affordable dental care as a priority issue impacting older Australians’ health and dignity. There’s hope that a Minister for Ageing might champion better access to dental services – perhaps through expanded public dental programs or higher rebates – so that oral health isn’t overlooked in ageing policy.

Finally, the private health insurance system may get a closer look. Many older Australians maintain private health cover to access elective surgeries or choice of doctor, but rising premiums can put it out of reach for those on retiree incomes. National Seniors is calling for a full review of private health insurance to tackle high premiums and out-of-pocket costs. The new ministerial team could work with industry and regulators on measures to make health insurance more value-for-money for seniors – for instance, reforming how prostheses and medical device prices are set (which can inflate premiums), or incentivising insurers to offer age-friendly products.

Whether such reforms happen will depend on the government’s appetite for taking on a complex sector. But given the Minister’s broadened brief, older Australians can be optimistic that their health needs – across Medicare, PBS, hospitals, and even private health – will be on the policy radar in a way they haven’t been for some time.

Retirement Income and Cost-of-Living Security​

For many seniors, the hip pocket issues are top of mind: Will I have enough to live on in retirement? Will the pension (or my superannuation) keep pace with the cost of living? The new ministerial arrangements touch on these concerns in a few ways. First, while Mark Butler focuses on health, another senior Labor figure – Tanya Plibersek – has taken over as Minister for Social Services, which gives her responsibility for the Age Pension and seniors’ income support programs. Plibersek’s appointment has been noted because she’s a prominent Cabinet minister shifting into the social policy space, suggesting the government wants a strong hand on welfare and pensions.

National Seniors has already flagged that it will be urging Minister Plibersek to streamline Age Pension processes – making dealing with Centrelink easier for older people – and to ensure policies like the Pension Work Bonus are optimised. (The Work Bonus, recently enhanced by the government, lets pensioners earn a bit more from employment without reducing their pension; it’s designed to give willing older workers more flexibility to supplement their income.) A user-friendly Centrelink system and supportive policies can greatly affect the day-to-day finances of seniors, so this is a space to watch.

The retirement income system overall is something the government has signaled it wants to “improve” while “protecting superannuation” for the future. In fact, the Albanese Government has already made a noteworthy proposal: from 2025-26, superannuation balances above $3 million will incur higher tax, aiming to make super tax concessions more sustainable. While that change will only impact a very small, wealthy fraction of retirees, it underscores the government’s intent to tweak settings for fairness and budget sustainability.

More directly relevant to ordinary retirees, groups like National Seniors are advocating for a freeze on pension deeming rates. Deeming rates are used to estimate the income retirees earn from their savings – when these rates rise, some part-pensioners could see their pension payments reduced (on paper they’re assumed to earn more interest on investments than they actually do). With interest rates volatile, seniors groups argue that keeping deeming rates low for now will protect retirees from unjust cuts to their pensions. It’s quite possible the Minister for Ageing will lend support to such measures in Cabinet discussions, ensuring that economic policy decisions consider impacts on older Australians’ budgets.

Cost-of-living relief has been another refrain. The past couple of years have seen sharp rises in essentials – groceries, utilities, petrol – which hit those on fixed incomes particularly hard. The government has rolled out some relief targeted at seniors (for example, one-off energy bill credits for pensioners and seniors health card holders, and expanded eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to help more self-funded retirees with concession benefits).

Going forward, seniors advocates are calling for more systemic help: rent relief for older renters, who are the fastest-growing cohort of homeless Australians; and measures to address the crisis of older women’s homelessness. COTA Australia’s CEO Patricia Sparrow has highlighted housing affordability as a critical issue for seniors, urging meaningful action to ensure older people – especially single older women – have secure, affordable housing options. This could translate into the government prioritising seniors in its broader housing plans, such as social housing investments or incentives for affordable housing development.

It’s worth noting that the Albanese government has proposed a multi-billion-dollar Housing Australia Future Fund, which among other things would allocate funds to housing for women and children fleeing violence (many of whom are older women) – if that passes, it could benefit seniors in need of secure housing.

Another facet of financial inclusion for seniors is access to banking and cash. As the economy goes digital, many older Australians worry about bank branch closures and being left behind by cashless trends. National Seniors has even launched a “Keep Cash” campaign, and is advocating for the establishment of an Australia Post Bank – a public banking option through post offices – to ensure all communities (including rural and suburban areas with high retiree populations) have access to face-to-face banking.

They are also closely watching the government’s promised “cash mandate” slated for 1 January 2026, which is expected to guarantee the availability of cash as a payment option. While these ideas might seem a step removed from high politics, they resonate on the ground: if you’re 75 and the nearest bank branch closed, you’d welcome a policy that lets you do your banking at the local post office or ensures businesses can’t refuse cash.

A Minister for Ageing attuned to seniors’ day-to-day challenges may champion such inclusive measures within the government. Indeed, having a voice for seniors in Cabinet could help connect big-picture economic policies with on-the-ground realities, like choosing between heating or eating on a tight pension, or navigating the digital divide in finance.

Social Inclusion: Combating Ageism and Empowering Seniors​

Importantly, the new focus on ageing isn’t just about dollars and services – it’s also about dignity, respect and inclusion for older Australians. As people age, they can face social challenges such as isolation, age discrimination, and marginalisation from the community. One hopeful sign is that the Minister for Ageing’s remit might encompass these broader issues. National Seniors CEO Chris Grice noted that many Australians experience ageism, barriers to mature-age employment, elder abuse, poverty, and homelessness as they grow older, and these problems “require government support and intervention”. Simply put, having a minister with “Ageing” on the door means there is a senior official tasked not only with health and care, but with ensuring older people are valued and included in society.

Age discrimination in the workforce is a clear example. Many over-60s who want to keep working (or need to, financially) find it tough to get hired due to outdated attitudes among employers. The Albanese government has made some moves in this space – for instance, it temporarily relaxed the income test for pensioners working extra hours, as mentioned earlier, and there are calls to make that change permanent to encourage older workers. But beyond financial incentives, tackling ageism requires cultural change and perhaps targeted programs to upskill or place older jobseekers.

It’s conceivable that the Minister for Ageing will work with the Employment Minister on strategies so that willing older workers aren’t left on the sidelines. After all, Australia’s workforce shortages in sectors like care and hospitality could be partly eased by engaging experienced seniors. Mature-age employment programs, mentorship opportunities, or even public awareness campaigns (similar to past anti-ageism campaigns) might get a boost with an Ageing portfolio in Cabinet to champion them.

Another area is social connectivity and mental health. Loneliness can be as detrimental to health as physical illness, and many seniors (especially those living alone or who lost partners) struggle with isolation. The government could expand community programs that connect older people – for example, funding for local seniors’ clubs, Men’s Sheds, or digital literacy classes that help older Australians get online and stay in touch with family. The appointment of a Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness (Victorian MP Josh Burns) and an Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence (Ged Kearney) in the new government lineup hints at a broader social agenda that includes protecting vulnerable older people.

Elder abuse – whether financial, emotional or physical – often occurs behind closed doors, so having support networks and clear government strategies is key to addressing it. We might see renewed focus on the National Plan to Respond to Elder Abuse, and better resourcing for helplines and legal support for seniors, with the Minister for Ageing in a position to advocate for these in Cabinet discussions.

As part of social inclusion, the concept of “ageing with dignity” is gaining traction. This means enabling older Australians to live the kind of life they value, whether that’s continuing to contribute to society, living independently at home, or accessing aged care without losing autonomy. Anglicare’s Kasy Chambers captured this sentiment well: ageing policy must consider all the things that let people age with dignity – secure housing, sufficient income, good health, and social connections – not just aged care beds.

Encouragingly, stakeholders note that the government’s new appointments show some alignment with this thinking. “The focus on seniors alongside aged care…shows the government understands that ageing with dignity goes beyond aged care,” Chambers said. Similarly, COTA’s CEO Patricia Sparrow welcomed the incoming ministers and stressed the need for “meaningful action on issues impacting older people, including affordable dental care, rent relief, income support, cost-of-living relief, action on ageism, and housing options for older women at risk of homelessness”.

Such a broad agenda will require coordination across portfolios – from health and housing to finance and women’s policy – but having an Ageing portfolio in Cabinet could act as the glue that holds these threads together, ensuring that older Australians’ voices are heard in each debate.

A New Chapter for Older Australians – What Next?​

The creation of a Minister for Ageing signals a new chapter in how the Australian government approaches an ageing society. For seniors, this editorial analysis suggests cautious optimism. We now have high-level champions like Mark Butler and Sam Rae tasked with focusing on our elders’ needs and rights, alongside other ministers handling pensions and services. The practical implications could be significant: hopefully shorter waits and higher quality in aged care, more bulk-billing doctors and affordable medicines, greater security in retirement incomes, and stronger efforts to combat ageism and isolation.

There are certainly commitments on paper – the government has promised “generational reform” in aged care and to strengthen Medicare and the pension system. There are also rising expectations from the public and advocacy groups that these promises will translate into concrete improvements.

As Patricia Sparrow from COTA reminded us, supporting older people today also means building a fairer system for future generations of seniors. We will all age in time, so policies enacted now set the stage for how we’ll be treated later on.



It’s worth noting that in opposition, the Coalition has also indicated support for seniors – for example, new Liberal leader Sussan Ley (herself a former aged care minister) will likely hold the government to account on aged care and cost-of-living issues for retirees. This bipartisan focus is a positive sign; it suggests that looking after older Australians isn’t a partisan issue but a national priority.

In the months ahead, seniors will be watching closely to see if the Albanese Government’s reshuffle brings real change. Will having a Minister for Ageing at the Cabinet table ensure older Australians are heard and cared for in all aspects of policy? Will these new ministers deliver the age-friendly policies and services that our growing senior population deserves? After the fanfare of the reshuffle fades, these are the questions that remain – and they are questions every Australian over 60 (and those who love them) will be asking as this new chapter unfolds.

What do you hope this new Minister for Ageing will achieve for Australia’s seniors, and will it make a difference in your life?