Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

The government won't be supporting the amendment. I think it's fair to say that this is a subject where the royal commission will have some very specific recommendations to make. We've seen some preliminary advice through counsel assisting, but also some very good evidence from a number of sources. I don't agree, Senator, that it's a no-cost option. It will incur costs. It will incur costs to providers, and that means it incurs a cost to government as the funder of the aged-care system. This will be one of the issues that will receive significant consideration from the government once we receive the report in three weeks time. So we won't support the amendment at this stage.