Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's all doom and gloom on the other side. There's no positivity. There's no vision for the future of aged care in our country. We on the government side of the House are focused on one thing, and that's getting the job done for the aged-care sector by implementing the recommendations of the royal commission. On this side of the chamber, we are in charge of the government. We are delivering for Australians in the aged-care sector, and Australians continue to put their trust in a Liberal-National government to deliver major reform of the aged-care sector, and we are delivering on that commitment.

Caring for Australians in aged care has always been, and will continue to be, a top priority for the Morrison government. In the last budget, the government committed $17.7 billion over five years to assist in the continuation of reform to the sector. The five key pillars of the government's reform program are home care, residential aged-care services and sustainability, residential aged-care quality and safety, workforce, and governance. The amendments in this bill—the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 2) Bill 2021—represent the second stage in that agenda. There are currently more than 282,000 Australians in residential aged care, excluding care provided in the home. Every individual that makes up that number is more than a statistic to this government. Their quality of life and their continued prosperity is our focus.

In Moncrieff, I continue to visit all 20 aged-care homes and continue to stay in touch on the vaccination rollout and speak with residents. It's going incredibly well, with aged-care workers and residents now well protected against COVID-19. In fact, soon after the last budget, I took Minister Hunt to TriCare in Mermaid Beach where we talked to staff and residents about their vaccination rollout and how the increase of $10 per day per resident would positively impact care for their residents. I thank those who worked so hard to vaccinate aged-care workers and residents, and I encourage those who may be unemployed at the moment to consider retraining and entering the workforce for a rewarding career in Australia's aged-care sector.

This bill will directly impact our senior Australians, who have contributed much of their adult life to building a country full of opportunity and freedom in which future generations will prosper. They've built the country that we live in today.

The Prime Minister established the royal commission into aged care only three weeks after entering office. Quite symbolic, don't you think? It was an unprecedented act that set in motion a chain of events to reform and tackle the big challenges facing Australia's aged-care sector.

The royal commission established by the Morrison government undertook a thorough examination of the aged-care system and provided a detailed list of recommendations. I know that Australians will be pleased to hear that the government has taken swift action to deliver fundamental and generational reform of our aged-care system.

Not only does this bill deliver the second phase of reforms for the aged-care sector; it ensures the future stability of the industry and the best quality care every senior Australian deserves. The record investment of $17.7 billion over five years will support the changes.

There are approximately 85 aged-care facilities on the Gold Coast alone, throughout and surrounding my electorate of Moncrieff. I am pleased to speak on the bill currently before the House and to see the second phase of reforms delivered for my ageing citizens, who deserve the best care possible. The reforms will directly impact my electorate, and, as a member of parliament, nothing brings me more joy than to see the lives of my constituents positively impacted by the work we undertake in this place.

Moncrieff is home to more than 28,000 Australians over the age of 65. That's 18 per cent of the electorate's population. The Gold Coast is not only a bustling paradise for thrillseekers and a destination for family getaways; it's also home to vibrant and inclusive residential aged-care communities. I'm certain this bill will not only provide better protection for residents in aged care; it will offer peace of mind to senior Australians considering the transition to an aged-care community for their health and wellbeing.

Under the current model, funding levels for residential aged-care services are determined by using the outdated Aged Care Funding Instrument. It does not adequately differentiate between residents in relation to the cost of delivering care, resulting in volatile revenue streams for providers and costs to government. This means clinical staff in residential aged-care facilities spend more time assessing residents for funding than delivering the quality care which residents require from the provider.

The royal commission examined these issues and recommended the introduction of a new case-mix funding model—the AN-ACC. A new specialist assessment workforce will create consistency across assessments, reduce funding volatility and free up aged-care workers to spend more time delivering the crucial care that aged-care residents deserve. It will also deter providers from delivering outdated and ineffective care in order to maximise funding. To put it simply, the new funding model will mean more time spent on caring for aged-care recipients and a reduction in overpriced services and wasted time on assessments.

Consistent with the royal commission's recommendation 121, under the new AN-ACC model, if the capability of a resident improves, there's no requirement for reassessment and potential reassignment to a lower payment class, providing an inbuilt financial incentive for aged-care providers to invest in restorative care. Changes to the aged-care funding model will be put in place from 1 October 2022. This will allow for providers and the broader aged-care sector to properly prepare to progress the newly developed and purpose-built funding model.

The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 2) Bill 2021 takes into careful consideration the timing of which amendments will be engaged. The faults within the sector that require immediate attention to ensure the continued operation of the aged-care system will be put into effect after the successful passing of this bill.

In April this year, residential aged-care recipients began being progressively assessed and classified under the AN-ACC. This classification will now be linked through this bill to the subsidy calculation for residential aged-care providers as the final step in implementing the AN-ACC model.

Not only do these amendments address critical flaws in our aged-care sector; they also create a contemporary, efficient, effective and stable funding approach. It lays the foundations for reform, like mandatory minimum care requirements and quality rating systems, and supports providers to better deliver individualised care for senior Australians.

The amendments will also revoke the limits on the number of respite days that can be offered at aged-care services. The Morrison government recognises the mental and physical toll of caring for a loved one. This bill takes into consideration both the wellbeing of the carer and the wellbeing of the individual receiving care. It provides families with a greater ability to transition a loved one to an aged-care facility when adequate care can no longer be delivered at home.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety listened to Australians from all corners of the aged-care sector. It uncovered harrowing truths and a culture of noncompliance throughout the industry. I stand here today and speak to the individuals, the families and the loved ones of residents in aged care that have experienced perpetrators abusing power to inflict harm, and those who endured an extremely difficult time, particularly at earle haven in my electorate, due to the financial failings of their provider. I want to make it crystal clear that any individual that believes they can cut corners on service provision or abuse the power of their position and continue to be employed in the aged-care sector is sorely mistaken. The Morrison government is putting in place up-to-date and fit-for-purpose financial and worker regulation measures—in part to recommendation 77 of the royal commission—by establishing an authority for nationally consistent preemployment screening for aged-care workers of approved providers and governing persons to replace existing police check obligations. The safety of residents should be at the forefront of all employment decisions. A national database of cleared and excluded individuals will be developed to support employment decisions in aged care. These safety measures anticipate there will also be mutual recognition arrangements with the NDIS and across the broader care and support sector.

Under the amendments put in place by this bill, Australians who require care and support can rest assured it will be safe. This will be achieved by broadening the scope and expanding the powers of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner to allow the commissioner to make and enforce a code of conduct that applies to approved providers and their workers, including governing persons. To support the commissioner in the mission to ensure the safety of aged-care recipients, this government will put into effect recommendation 103 of the royal commission. This will support the code of conduct by allowing the commissioner to enforce a new banning order regime for workers. These new regulatory arrangements will prevent unsuitable workers from entering or remaining in the aged-care sector and ensure that poor conduct is held to account. It will deter individuals who intend to put the safety of aged-care residents at risk by breaching the code of conduct. The Morrison government will develop the code of conduct in consultation with stakeholders and it will be brought into effect through supporting legislation. The code will be based on the current NDIS Code of Conduct, which has proven to be effective for NDIS recipients. Modifications will be made, of course, to ensure the code is fit for purpose and relevant to aged care.

Over the coming months consultations with stakeholders will provide the foundation for the content and operation of the draft code, including through a consultation paper and targeted stakeholder forums. There will be opportunities for aged-care providers, workers and consumers, as well as stakeholders from the broader care and support sector to contribute. We are safeguarding and fortifying Australia's position as a world leader in aged-care and broader support services.

It is important to note that this bill carries out structural and cultural changes deep within the aged-care sector—changes that are desperately needed. In the same breath thousands of nurses, aged-care workers and many others continue to uphold a high standard of care in the workplace. I can attest to that by having visited all of those aged-care facilitates in Moncrieff and seeing the absolute dedication of the staff that run those homes. The way they treat patients makes me proud—I am beaming with pride when I leave those homes. They're such kind and gentle people who are dedicated to our elderly citizens. We mustn't paint all aged-care workers with the same brush. This bill will highlight the great work of those who serve the sector with selflessness and compassion for all of our seniors.

It has become increasingly common for senior Australians to opt for aged-care services to be provided at home, rather than in a residential facility. As demand for at-home care has grown, many new providers have entered the market to provide care and support services. The Morrison government is extending, from 1 July 2022, the Serious Incident Response Scheme for residential care to home care and flexible care delivered in a home, in line with royal commission recommendation 100. Under the scheme, providers of in-home aged-care services will gain additional responsibility to identify, record, manage and resolve all incidents that occur. The Morrison government will expand the Serious Incident Response Scheme. This will reduce the risk of abuse and neglect and protect vulnerable older Australians receiving aged-care services in their home and in the community.

Competent and effective governance provides the basis on which the aged-care sector delivers its services. The proposed strengthening of legislative arrangements will greatly improve the governance of approved providers. These amendments align with royal commission recommendations 88 to 90, which note that good provider governance arrangements result in high-quality care for consumers. All of this will improve the financial resilience of the industry, improve service continuity and allow the government to identify at-risk providers sooner as well.

To finish—because I see I'm running out of time but I've got pages and pages of things that I could talk about—I will summarise for Australians: the $17.7 billion that this government is investing in aged care is for your future, your parents' future and your grandparents' future. I'm very proud to stand here and say that we are reforming the aged-care sector across those five key planks. We are dedicated to working for Australians—for your future and for your families' future.

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