Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

The Labor Party will not be supporting the removal of the requirement to report to the secretary. We think it is important, if a trend is emerging in a particular facility, that not only the police be aware of that but that the department, as the regulator and funder of residential aged care in Australia, be aware that something is occurring in a particular facility. I do not think it is any great imposition on a provider to communicate that information to the secretary. I know that there are some providers who are concerned that this is somewhat big brother like. But I think that, when we are talking of allegations of this nature, it is quite appropriate for the funding agency and the regulator of the service to be absolutely aware, especially if trends are emerging in any particular facility. For those reasons we will not be able to support the Democrat amendment.