The aged care sector's hopes the Albanese Government would finally introduce the new Aged Care Act into Parliament this week, and reveal its response to the Aged Care Taskforce, have been dashed for at least another month.
The Government has repeatedly expressed its desire that bipartisan support for the Taskforce reforms be reached before it tables the new Aged Care Act into Parliament. Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, told The Dementia Centre's International Dementia Conference 2024 last week she was hopeful that Opposition support was imminent.
But a Coalition spokesman today told The Weekly SOURCE the 550-page Act, which the Opposition received only last week, contains "surprise new provisions" that were not contained in the Exposure Draft released last December.
In addition, the Opposition has not seen "subordinate regulations" relating to the new Act, which are essential to the law's implementation.
“The Coalition remains in good faith discussions with the Government on their aged care legislation, but there remain significant details that the Government has not confirmed," the spokesperson said.
Time's up
Tom Symondson, CEO of Aged and Community Care Providers' Association (ACCPA), the peak body for aged care providers, said introducing the Act into Parliament when it resumes in October is "not an option".
“We’re basically out of time on aged care reform in this term of parliament," he said.
"There is no time left for a Senate Inquiry and other parliamentary processes before the next election.
“Successive Governments and politicians of all persuasions have kicked the can for aged care reform down the road for others to deal with.
"Older Australians deserve better."
He added without reform, aged care "as we know it may not exist in this country in the very near future and generations of older Australians will be the ones to suffer.”
