With just 31 sitting days left in this calendar year, the window for the new Act to be legislated this year is closing fast – does this mean that the Government’s response to the Aged Care Taskforce is finally imminent?
According to the Parliamentary sitting calendar, there are only eight sitting weeks left in 2024 with politicians set to return to Canberra for two weeks starting from 12 August – next week.
Sources say it is difficult to see the legislation for the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program – both anticipated to start from 1 July 2025 – being passed this year if they are not introduced to Parliament in August.
“The legislation could get through in a couple of weeks if everyone decides it’s a priority and supports it, but that’s hard to see happening with this bill,” said one source.
With no guarantee of a smooth passage through the House of Representatives and Senate, waiting until September – or later – could further delay the new legislation.
Given the new Act and Support at Home have already been delayed by the Government twice, it seems unlikely that the Albanese Government would be willing to risk a third delay – particularly given aged care was one of the pillars of its election campaign in 2022.
In short, the Government needs to release their response to the Taskforce soon to get the new legislation through Parliament in time for mid-2025.
Inspector-General of Aged Care calls for new Act to be passed before end of year
Concern has been mounting in recent weeks that the political impasse around the recommendations would lead to further financial pressure on providers.
A report by aged care accountants StewartBrown published last week found 75% of aged care homes were at risk of closure over the next five years if the Government does not act on the Taskforce recommendations.
As we report this week, the Acting Inspector-General of Aged Care, Ian Yates AM, released a progress report on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendations warning that maintaining the current, rationed system under the new Act would ensure that the older Australians would continue to struggle to access aged care services.
However, he also noted the urgency for the legislation to be passed as soon as possible given the sector is now three years on from the Royal Commission.
“The Inspector-General considers it critical that there be no further delays in commencement of the new Act. It is to be hoped that the revised Bill can be introduced in time for thorough parliamentary consideration and passage before the end of 2024,” the report states.
One thing is for sure: if the Government does not release its response to the Taskforce this month, the gloves will well and truly be off.
