What we learned: Friday 13 December
We are wrapping up the live blog here for the night. This is what made the news:
The Coalition claims its nuclear energy plan will lead to 38% of electricity coming from nuclear energy and 54% from renewable sources by 2050, costing $263bn less than Labor’s policy to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
However, the modelling relies on demand not increasing as much as the government expects despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles and energy-hungry technologies.
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the Coalition’s nuclear costings are “riddled with fundamental errors [and] heroic assumptions” and have three fatal errors.
Former professional tennis player turned Victoria Liberal party MP Sam Groth quit the frontbench after his leader, John Pesutto, refused to stand down after a damning defamation judgment.
There are heatwave warnings in place for four states and territories, while severe thunderstorms are in store for parts of WA and NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.
South Australian police arrested two parents for allegedly pretending their child had cancer to garner $60,000 in donations.
Hundreds of Qantas engineers walked off the job for 24 hours amid pay negotiations.
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Staged introduction of pricing caps for in-home aged care providers until July 2026
The Albanese government will “stage” the introduction of pricing caps for in-home aged care providers until July 2026 after industry groups warned providers would not have enough time to prepare.
The Department of Health and Aged Care released the news on Thursday explaining the plans to introduce pricing caps in Labor’s $4.3bn in-home aged care program, Support At Home, would be pushed back one year.
The existing home care program, which supports people who want to remain in their own house rather than enter residential care, will transition to Support At Home from 1 July 2025. The government said amid “changing preferences” of older Australians, home care participants have quadrupled in the last decade; with an expected 1.4 million people by 2035, changes are required to that system.
The new program is expected to support another 300,000 people, with promises of shorter waiting times, better support, and access to funds for home modifications, walkers, wheelchairs, and a new equipment loan system.
But the changes to bring in pricing caps were due to come into effect from July 2025 after consultation with the sector in early 2025. The pricing guide will be set by the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority on an annual basis.
The aged care minister, Anika Wells, explained:
This decision has been made based on feedback from the sector and the opposition about the need to avoid service disruption and ensure continuity of care for older people. Providers will continue to set their own prices for services in the first year of the program from July 2025, as currently occurs in the Home Care Package program. The government will introduce additional consumer protections to monitor prices and to ensure pricing is fair during the transition year. The government will consult with older people, consumer advocates and the sector on the development of these measures from January 2025.
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