Media Release | 13 March 2026
Bevan Eatts MLA
Shadow Minister for Aged Care
Shadow Minister for Aged Care Bevan Eatts MLA has labelled a new $115 million Federal Labor Government funding package for aged-care “hotspots”, a drop in the ocean for Western Australia, with warnings the State will soon face a shortage of thousands of beds.
Mr Eatts said the funding could deliver only around 50 additional beds in WA, despite modelling showing the State will need around 2800 more beds by 2029–30.
“Western Australia is heading towards a serious aged-care shortfall and this funding barely scratches the surface of what’s required,” Mr Eatts said.
“Our seniors deserve dignity and certainty as they age, but right now families across regional WA are already struggling to find suitable aged-care places close to home.”
The Federal Government recently announced Perth as one of several national “hotspots” to share in a $115 million expansion of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
However, due to higher construction costs in WA, industry modelling suggests the State’s share may fund only around 50 new beds.
Providers have warned the situation is worsening as the population ages, older facilities become outdated and infrastructure investment fails to keep pace with demand.
Mr Eatts said the issue was highlighted during Question Time in the State Parliament this week, where the Aged Care Minister acknowledged the funding could equate to only around 50 additional beds for Western Australia.
Despite the scale of the shortfall, the Minister indicated she was satisfied following discussions with the Federal Government.
“When Western Australia needs about 2800 additional aged-care beds in the next few years, celebrating 50 is simply not good enough,” Mr Eatts said.
“If a business had a shortfall of 2800 units and came back saying they’d secured another 50, no one would call that a success. They’d call it a problem that still needs to be solved.”
Mr Eatts said the consequences are particularly severe for regional communities, where aged care options are already limited.
“In places like the South West, families are already facing the reality of elderly parents being forced to move hundreds of kilometres away just to find a bed,” he said.
“Seniors should be able to stay connected to their families; their community and the place they call home.”
Mr Eatts said the State Labor Government must continue pushing Canberra for a fair share of funding and a serious long-term plan to address the shortage.
“I welcome any additional beds, but the job is far from done,” he said.
“Western Australia deserves stronger advocacy. The Minister should still be banging on the door in Canberra until we get the support our ageing population needs.”
ENDS
