Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McLucas for her answer. I think that she has clarified that and I am clear on what the process will be. I raise this because aged-care providers and consumers are raising it. They are saying that they have concerns that it will, as I explained earlier, lead to a lockdown. It is mainly the threat of sanctions—then they will take a much more precautionary approach. The fine balance that exists at the moment between making sure people have their liberty while living in a locked situation may go the wrong way. I understand now, I hope, where the government is coming from on that. There will not necessarily be sanctions imposed without an investigation process. I thank the minister for her answers.

I have one more short question and then I promise to move my first set of amendments. My question is around ACAT versus ACFE. I will not go into detail here between ACAT and ACFE, but as I understand it there are ongoing issues about reassessments and I am pleased that there is now more provision for the assessment process being speeded up. I understand that when the government are carrying out their review next year they will be looking at how they can deal with that assessment between ACAT and ACFE. I appreciate that that is a very difficult situation, which is why, I must admit, we have not attempted to move an amendment on this—because it is an ongoing issue. I am just seeking the government’s reassurance that this issue will be taken into consideration during that process.