18 August 2026 – Paul Murray Live – Labor’s Aged Care Crisis
August 21, 2026
The next set of nationwide crime statistics – due in the next few days – won’t tell the story Australians want to hear.
Vulnerable Australians are fleeing their homes that have become less safe because of escalating aggression and violence.
Crisis helplines are overwhelmed. Australians in all their diversity are in real crisis.
Helpline DV Connect is called every four minutes in Queensland alone while in two years not a single promised frontline worker was delivered and Queensland still falls well-short today.
The Albanese Labor Government said there would be 352 full-time equivalent frontline workers on the ground today – they’ve delivered just 94. 2
This was a 500 worker election commitment in 2022 – based on performance not likely to be delivered by the next election.
The Albanese Labor Government continues to blame the states but it’s their election “promise” – they’ve led negotiations for National Partnership Agreements. It is this Labor Government’s failure.
Yet this Albanese Labor Government intends to distribute more money to the states and territories despite appalling progress.
Frontline workers confirm capacity for family violence response for regional, rural and remote areas add to everyone’s distress.
More families couch surfing, living in cars, in tents – anywhere other than home – because home is not safe.
Strangulation is up.
Sexual violence is up.
In all its forms violence is under-reported.
In this epidemic, announcements are not enough; rewarding poor performance is not good enough.
Community Legal Services turned away nearly 1000 people a day last year – yet the Albanese Government Budget had no new money for them – just enough to cover indexation and frontline shelters can’t take any more in.
Minister Rishworth has said:
“Every new worker employed will be able to make a difference for women experiencing violence.”
The Albanese Government has demonstrated its inability to deliver what it promises and Australians know it; only on family violence lives are at stake.
