Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The government recognises the importance of working very closely with the aged care sector through what will be a period of change. Earlier this month, I announced the establishment of the Aged Care Sector Committee to be chaired by someone we all know well, Professor Peter Shergold AC. The Aged Care Sector Committee will be tasked with building the foundation for a lasting partnership between government and providers and other participants in the sector. It will be an important conduit between all the players in the sector and government. It will also provide guidance to help the aged care sector adapt to the new demands of an ageing population and also, particularly importantly, to provide guidance on the greater movement toward consumer choice and the greater consumer focus that there will be as part of the changes coming into effect on 1 July. I think it is an important thing for colleagues to realise that the direction is inexorably heading one way, and that is for greater consumer choice in aged care.