Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I will put on record again, in very few sentences, the position of the opposition. We agree with the government that the secretary of the department must consider a number of matters in deciding whether to impose sanctions for noncompliance. The factors the secretary must take into consideration are: whether the noncompliance is of a minor or serious nature; whether an aged-care facility has a history of non-compliance; and whether the noncompliance threatens the health, welfare or interests of care recipients. In that context, we think that the government has got the balance right. On that basis, we will not be supporting this amendment either.