Ian Yates, who served as the acting inspector-general of aged care until earlier this year, has added his voice to growing criticism of Labor's aged care reforms. In remarks published on Monday, Yates accused the government of understating the scale of the waiting list for home care packages, describing the situation as 'unprecedented'.

'The reforms were supposed to fix the system, but the evidence suggests they've made it worse,' Yates said. He claimed that official figures do not capture the true number of older Australians waiting for support, and that the government has been 'playing down' the crisis.

Yates' comments follow similar criticism from another former aged care official, who last month described the reforms as deeply flawed. Together, the two insiders represent a significant break with the government's narrative that its changes are working.

The reforms, introduced in stages over the past two years, were designed to implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. They included a new Aged Care Act, increased funding for home care, and stricter quality standards. The government has repeatedly argued that the changes are necessary to fix a system that was 'broken' under the previous Coalition government.

However, critics say the transition has been chaotic. Home care package wait times have reportedly increased, and providers have struggled with new regulatory requirements. The government has pointed to rising overall funding and a growing number of people receiving services as evidence of progress.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Aged Care has not yet responded to Yates' remarks, but in previous statements the government has defended its record, noting that wait times for the highest-priority home care packages have decreased. Nevertheless, Yates’ intervention undermines that claim, as he directly oversees data integrity.

The debate comes at a politically sensitive time, with a federal election due within months. Aged care is expected to be a key battleground issue, with both major parties promising to address the needs of an ageing population.