Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The royal commission response bill does not include the worker screening arrangements proposed in schedule 2 to the previous government's bill. This is not, however, because we are shying away from ensuring that aged-care workers meet professional standards and do not engage in inappropriate conduct—to the contrary. The government is committed to implementing a much more comprehensive and robust national registration scheme for personal care workers that is consistent with recommendation 77 of the royal commission as well as the code of conduct which is implemented through this bill. This scheme will include ongoing training, English proficiency and criminal history screening to further professionalise the aged-care workforce. The government is currently exploring options on the best way to implement this scheme to ensure it is robust, operationally effective and, above all, designed to ensure maximum protection for older Australians receiving care. As a result, former schedule 2 has been removed from the royal commission response bill in the interim so that sufficient care and attention can be given to designing the new scheme, which will be delivered as part of the new aged care act.

In practice, these measures will also not be delayed as, while the previous arrangements would have established an aged-care screening database for workers and governing persons, I note that the time frame for commencement was within 24 months following royal assent to the bill. In the meantime, the usual criminal history checks for workers will continue to be required.