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

I thank Senator Small for his question. The final report of the royal commission was provided to the Australian government on 26 February and was publicly released following tabling in the parliament on 1 March. It is a very significant report. The final report, Care, Dignity and Respect, comprises eight volumes totalling more than 2,500 pages and includes 148 recommendations. The government thanks the royal commissioners, the Hon. Tony Pagone QC, Lynelle Briggs AO and the Hon. Richard Tracey AM RFD QC, for their considerable work in conducting the royal commission and all of those who contributed throughout the course of the inquiry.

The royal commission's report provided some very difficult reading. I thank all those brave individuals, families, carers and aged-care workers who gave evidence to the commission under difficult circumstances. Now we owe it to all of them to act on recommendations of the report and to acknowledge the significant and sweeping proposals required to reform the aged-care sector. We must do better. It was this government that called the royal commission and it will be this government that delivers. We will not shy away from implementing the reforms needed to deliver the care our senior Australians require and deserve. The scale and scope of the report and the expectations of the Australian community demand a comprehensive understanding of its outcomes and its recommendations. We intend to provide a full response to the report by 31 May, as the recommendations of the Royal Commission ask.