The aged care industry is warning Parliament is “basically out of time” to pass critical reforms this term and is urging Labor and the Coalition to immediately come to a bipartisan agreement. Source: The Australian.
It comes as the Coalition remains unwilling to support the legislation because of several “surprise provisions” discovered in the proposed laws.
After months of negotiations with the Coalition – which led to major concessions such as the removal of criminal penalties for providers who breached new standards – Labor was quietly optimistic about gaining the Opposition’s support and introducing the bill this week.
However, there was no discussion of the bill in the Coalition’s partyroom meeting yesterday, which the Opposition said was in part due to the Albanese Government’s unwillingness to table the legislation in Parliament first.
A Coalition spokeswoman said the Opposition had received the 550-page bill, intended to implement changes that will make the sector financially sustainable, only a week ago and urged that it be made publicly available for all of Parliament to consider before her party gave its support.
“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 spokeswoman said.
“We are seeking clarification from the Government on the details that will be contained in so-far-unseen subordinate regulation and on surprise new provisions.”
With no tick-off from the Opposition yesterday, the bill will not receive bipartisan support until mid-October at the earliest, when the party room next meets.
Aged and Community Care Providers Association chief executive Tom Symondson said the delay was risking the sector “as we know it”.
“We’re basically out of time on aged care reform in this term of Parliament,” he said. “Our message for elected politicians is simple. Get this done now. The time for politics is well and truly over. Older Australians deserve better.”
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said it was “disappointing” the Opposition was yet to agree to a deal that would secure the future of quality aged care.
Labor has maintained it will not introduce the bill until the Coalition assures its support, because the legislation is “too important” to be politicised.
FULL STORY
Delaying aged care bill ‘just not an option’, says industry (By Sarah Ison, The Australian)
