Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I will make the summing-up speech on behalf of the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians. The Australian population is ageing, and senior Australians and their families deserve to be treated with respect and dignity whilst receiving high-quality aged-care services. Integral to this is the empowerment of aged-care residents to make their own decisions about their emotional wellbeing and physical health and safety.

During difficult and challenging times, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that senior Australians are supported in their right to exercise choice about their care. The COVID-19 emergency has highlighted a gap in existing residential aged-care leave provisions when faced with a large-scale emergency. Currently, permanent aged-care residents are entitled to up to 52 days of social leave each financial year. If a resident exceeds their 52 days of leave, they are required to then pay a significant fee to retain their place within their aged-care home.

During the current pandemic, many permanent residents have indicated they wish to temporarily relocate to stay with family in order to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. These residents currently have no other option but to use their social leave allocation, which will likely run out before they are ready to return to their aged-care home. If they choose to remain on leave, the additional charges that will be incurred to secure their room will place a significant and unnecessary financial burden on them or their families. In many cases, residents may simply not be able to afford the additional charges and therefore will be forced to return to a home or possibly forfeit their place.

The isolation, lack of visitation and inability to stay with family for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused cognitive decline and anxiety for a significant number of aged-care residents. Many residents and their families are fearful of contracting or spreading the virus whilst in an aged-care home, yet due to the limited leave provisions available they are unable to exercise their right to manage their own health and wellbeing. The new leave type being introduced through this bill will ensure residents have access to appropriate leave during emergency situations and this will not see them financially disadvantaged or losing other leave entitlements for situations completely out of their control. This change is in the best interests of all older Australians and the broader community and supports the residents, and in turn their families and carers, to make their own decisions about their personal safety and care. I thank members for their contribution to this bill.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

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