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

We have also announced our intention to explore new ways to help the aged-care sector to adapt to changes in consumer demand and preferences, including through the market provision of accreditation services to help decrease red tape. Currently the Aged Care Quality Agency is the sole provider of aged-care accreditation services and we want to look to see whether a market for accreditation services can be opened up to provide greater competition.

We have also announced, importantly, that there will be a transfer of responsibility for the Aged Care Complaints Scheme, which currently sits with the Department of Social Services, to the independent statutory office of the Aged Care Commissioner. This is something that was recommended by the Productivity Commission and also the Walton aged care review. We think that it is good. It separates responsibility for policy and compliance with social services on the one hand and for complaints on the other.