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

The minister is absolutely focused on that. I certainly know of all of the work that she has done in consulting and working across the sector, so I'm very comfortable giving that guarantee. Obviously there's a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure information's available so people understand what's new, what's changing and what's staying the same. Providers, as well, will need resources to make sure that they are able to provide information to older Australians using their services. There will obviously be a continued focus on this through the aged-care transition taskforce as well which—I know I'm going to keep saying this today probably—has its first meeting on Thursday. That's really been established to make sure that we're doing everything we can, and that the minister is advised very early, not just from the department but from representation on that taskforce. The taskforce picks up obviously members of the department and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. But when I look across there is the Older Persons Advocacy Network, Anglicare, the United Workers Union, the Council on the Ageing, UnitingCare Australia, the home implementation working group, a primary care expert and independent assurance. It really does pull in all of the stakeholders that will be required to provide independent advice to the minister about the transition and how it's proceeding. There is, in the words of the minister, 'stress testing' of how that implementation work is going, to make sure that, if there are issues, they are identified early and responded to quickly.