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

I assure the ALP that consultation with consumers has occurred. In fact, this comes directly out of consumers and the inquiry into the first phase of these changes. While I agree that fundamental changes to the act shouldn't be made in the run-up to the royal commission, let's be honest here. It's not reporting until late next year. It will take some time—let's face it—in the run-up to the next election for any action to be taken. I am not casting aspersions on the government, or anybody else for that matter; that's simply the reality of the way regulation works and making sure we've got an act that meets the recommendations from the royal commission in the future.

We're talking about changes that will help people now. Anybody who is involved in the aged-care system knows that My Aged Care is extremely complicated, very hard to navigate and means there isn't a single point of contact for the aged-care system. It makes sense to enable the commission to address these particular issues; otherwise they simply aren't addressed. It's a fallacy to say there's a single point of entry. So please don't come the one about: 'You haven't consulted with us about it.' As to the sector, consumers have asked for this. They've been complaining about My Aged Care a lot, as I addressed in my second reading contribution. So say you don't support them but don't use the excuse of not being consulted. Since when has the ALP consulted anybody else when they've brought in amendments? The fact is this is what consumers would like to see: a genuine single point of entry.

I ask: does the government intend to do anything about making My Aged Care, ACAT and RAS actually accountable and more usable in the at least 18 months that we will be waiting before we see any changes come through as a result of the royal commission's final report.