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

No, I wouldn't accept that and the government wouldn't accept that. I think it is an important area of improving transparency and accountability across the residential aged-care sector. But it is a new system and, where we are getting feedback, that feedback should be looked at and assessed to see if there is anything to that. You can see where star ratings have been applied in other areas of public information. It is much more about driving improvements rather than penalising and punishing. That's the whole idea of introducing one. It sits alongside other quality measures that are required for the aged-care sector. But look, we accept that the standard of care in aged care hasn't been what Australian people expected or what elderly Australians expect and should receive. The sector is under enormous reform but I'm confident that through the work of the minister, aged-care providers and the department we will get there.