More than 1,400 Stranded Australians still languishing in Queensland hospitals

• New Queensland Health data shows 1,437 Stranded Australians remain stuck in hospitals across the State. 
• These patients are clinically fit for discharge but due to a lack of Commonwealth-funded aged care beds and supports they simply have nowhere to go. 
• Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls will once again raise the plight of Stranded Australians at the Health Ministers’ Meeting this week.
• The Crisafulli Government is determined that the Commonwealth deliver on its aged care and NDIS responsibilities and provide the support Stranded Australians need.  

New Queensland Health data shows there remain more than 1,400 patients in Queensland hospitals who are clinically fit for discharge but are stuck because the Commonwealth continues to shirk its responsibilities.  

Queensland Health conducts a quarterly point in time census across all regions to track patients experiencing delayed discharge.  

The new August census found there are 1,437 of these Stranded Australians in Queensland hospitals, including 1,118 older aged care patients and 319 younger Nationally Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) patients. 

Despite Federal Health Minister Mark Butler repeatedly stating that Australia needs “to open a new aged care home every three days for the next 20 years”, latest available data reveals that between June 2024 to June 2025 there was an increase of just 26 residential aged care beds in Queensland.  

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls will again highlight the plight of Stranded Australians when he meets with Minister Butler and other State health ministers for the Health Ministers Meeting on Friday.  

“The Commonwealth’s aged care plan for Queensland remains unclear - we do not yet know how many additional places will be delivered across the State, where they will be located, or when they will become available,” Minister Nicholls said.  

“This lack of clarity comes as the Commonwealth also proposes removing the higher private health insurance rebate available to Australians aged 65 and over. 

“While the Commonwealth has modelled how many people may leave or downgrade their private health insurance, they have not clarified what this could mean for public hospital activity or costs. 

“Older Australians are significant users of hospital services, including elective surgery, and require ongoing care for chronic conditions. 

“Any shift in demand to the public system would add pressure to hospitals already managing growing demand and delayed discharge – a cohort that has tripled under the Albanese Government.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Torny Miller, 0439 426 196  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

August Census: Total Stranded Australians in Queensland Hospital and Health Services