Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd first like to thank and acknowledge the workers, carers and nurses of Newmarch House in my electorate of Lindsay for the extraordinary work they have been doing over the last few weeks, looking after the residents and the families of Newmarch. The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Emergency Leave) Bill 2020 ensures that our older Australians have access to high-quality aged-care services whilst ensuring they are treated with respect and dignity. These are such concerning times for everyone, none more so than people in our aged-care facilities across our country. I know firsthand that, if coronavirus enters an aged-care facility, the results can be devastating. In these situations, not only is the immediate health risk a concern; so is the mental health of residents who are isolated from loved ones for extensive periods.

Even in a facility that is free from coronavirus—and, thankfully, this has been most facilities in our country—the isolation due to restricted access is difficult for both residents and their families. Window visits are no substitute for face-to-face contact and, if residents want to be able to be at home with their families for this time, they should be allowed to. This bill is essential in giving them this freedom of choice. We should be empowering residents in aged-care facilities to make their own decisions regarding their emotional wellbeing, physical health and safety. The families of residents need a greater say, and that's why this bill is so important. During emergency situations such as the coronavirus pandemic, if a resident or their family are concerned about the current health emergency in an aged-care facility or if they're worried there is an impact on the safe provision of aged care, this gives them the choice to take leave from the aged-care home and, more importantly, they can do so without incurring a financial burden and they don't have to worry about potentially losing their room.

In many parts of Australia and particularly in Lindsay, the coronavirus pandemic and also the recent bushfire season have demonstrated that there is a gap in leave entitlements of aged-care residents, particularly during emergency situations. This can be distressing for families who only want the best outcomes for the residents living in these facilities. Having spoken to many families impacted by coronavirus in Newmarch House, I know this will be a welcome step.

Under the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997, subsidy payments to aged-care providers cease if a resident takes more than 52 days of social leave in a financial year. Providers are then able to pass on the equivalent cost of the subsidy payment to residents. Introducing this bill means that the many aged-care residents who want to stay at home with their families and loved ones due to the risk of contracting coronavirus or the isolation caused by this pandemic will now have the option to do so.

In my maiden speech I spoke about the importance of taking care of our older Australians, and it's now more important than ever that we do so. Working in community housing, I saw many older people who were experiencing loneliness, which concerned me greatly. It is so important as people get older that they have a support network with their family or friends in the community and that they have that choice to be at home with their loved ones. I worry for people who in their old age don't have that, especially when they need it most. Currently for many residents the only option is to use their social leave allocation or they will have to remain in the aged-care facility. This is what we saw during the devastating bushfire crisis and what we have seen during this coronavirus pandemic. This will mean that many residents will exceed their social leave before they are ready to return to the facility. If they choose to stay with their families on leave, they will incur this further cost to keep their place at the aged-care home, placing further financial hardship on them or their families during an already difficult and stressful time. Because of this, residents may not be able to afford the additional charges or they may not be able to take leave with their families.

The government has received a large number of representations about this issue, and recently the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck; the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson; and I held a teleconference with families of residents of Newmarch House. We spoke about many things on this teleconference, including the immediate action required within Newmarch at the time, and many families also expressed, as they have with me, the need for more chases in aged care. For residents in many situations the families' experience of not being able to protect and take care of their loved ones is frustrating and heartbreaking. The isolation, the lack of visitation and inability to stay with family for the duration of the current coronavirus pandemic has caused great anxiety for a significant number of aged-care residents and families.

Many residents and families are fearful of the risk of contracting or spreading the virus while in an aged-care home, and the amendments in this bill introduce a new emergency leave type for permanent aged-care residents. This can be activated during pandemics, natural disasters and other large-scale emergencies as determined by the government. The leave will be available for a set period and can apply nationally or to a specific area. We now have flexibility, and this will come into effect retrospectively from 1 April 2020 to ensure that residents and families who have been financially impacted during this coronavirus pandemic will be supported. The bill ensures that permanent aged-care residents and their families are supported to make decisions about personal safety in emergency situations and not suffer that unnecessary financial burden as a result. Following an emergency, residents are still able to use their social leave entitlement to maintain their normal visiting and special events routine with their family and friends, which is important for their emotional and mental health.

It has been a privilege to support the residents and families of Newmarch House and support my community through this very difficult time. I also support wholeheartedly the introduction of this very important bill.

See this speech in context