Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I do recognise that this is an issue for many people across our communities who are concerned about elderly people. Indeed, as somebody who has had a parent in an aged-care home, I understand how important this issue is. I'm advised that the issue of staff ratios was raised in the Productivity Commission's Caring for older Australians report and that the commission noted the diversity of stakeholder perspectives on this issue.

While the commission expressed the view that at this stage the introduction of a simple staff ratio would not be a positive reform, it did not make any recommendations on staff ratios. The report observed that, at this stage, the imposition of a simple staff ratio is a relatively blunt instrument, particularly given that the care-resident profile of every facility will be ever changing.

Minister Wyatt announced during the May 2017 budget $2 million for an industry-led task force that will look closely at a range of matters, including quality assurance. Details of this task force, including the membership and terms of reference, will be announced in the coming weeks. Again, I can offer the senator a briefing, if it would be appropriate, to be available.