Anika Wells (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Mayo for her ongoing advocacy. I note, with respect to RAD reviews, we have committed to a phase-out of refundable accommodation deposits by 2035, following a review of sector readiness for this transition, which will be in 2029-30. The Aged Care Taskforce, which brought together aged-care stakeholders, experts and providers, found that time is needed to manage the transition away from refundable accommodation deposits and that a review should be undertaken in 2030. A change in the timeframe as recommended by the taskforce was not a key issue identified in the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee report on the Aged Care Bill.

With respect to the act review, we do agree it's important. We think the member for Mayo is correct on this. We think the review into the operation of the act can be brought forward to ensure it is delivering on its intended purpose to create a forward-looking aged-care system that will uphold the rights of older Australians receiving aged-care services. It was also a recommendation put forward by the opposition in the community affairs committee report on the bill. I thank the member for Mayo.

Question agreed to.

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