Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

The aged-care sector delivers a fundamental service for older Australians, protecting them, caring for them and supporting them in their journey of aging. The coalition believes that the establishment of an inspector-general of aged care is important to ensure that the aged-care sector remains supported, and we will therefore be supporting this legislation to permanently establish the Inspector-General of Aged Care and the associated statutory office.

The establishment of an inspector-general implements recommendation 12 of the royal commission, which was supported by the coalition. To implement the royal commission's recommendations, when in government we provided over $19.1 billion to support the aged-care sector and to provide the best possible care for older Australians. It's appropriate that the Inspector-General of Aged Care monitors and investigates the Commonwealth's administration and regulation of the aged-care system. It's also important that the findings and recommendations of the inspector-general are tabled in this parliament to instil greater accountability, transparency and understanding of the work that occurs across the whole of the aged-care system. However, the establishment of this new commission will also cast light on some of the most pressing challenges currently facing the aged-care sector, the most prominent of which is workforce. Workforce shortages are putting serious pressure on Australia's entire healthcare system, and it is clear that this crisis is impacting the viability of aged-care homes across the country.