Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australian, Senator Colbeck. Minister, who is responsible for aged care?

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

The responsibility for predominantly funding aged care, and also the administrative oversight of the aged-care sector and the regulatory framework for the aged-care sector, rests with the Commonwealth government.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, a supplementary question?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, the Premier of Tasmania said aged care is 'very clearly a federal responsibility in terms of funding and regulation'. Is Premier Gutwein right or wrong?

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

I think that Premier Gutwein's statement just agreed with the answer that I gave to the primary question.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, a final supplementary question?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister confirm that the government's own document released in February made clear that the Australian government is responsible for protecting aged-care residents by establishing and maintaining infection control guidelines and enforcing healthcare safety and quality standards?

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

I thank Senator Urquhart for the question. As I said, the Australian government is responsible for the primary finding of residential aged care and its regulation. That is a clear statement and I agree with that in the context of the question. We are at the moment—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to sit down if the minister is going to get to the point. I had a point on direct relevance because Senator Urquhart put directly to the minister whether or not the Australian government was responsible for protecting residents through infection control guidelines, healthcare safety and quality standards. But I'm happy to withdraw it if he's going to get to that point.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am listening to the answer. I have to admit that at this point I am in no way willing to rule it's not directly relevant 18 seconds in. I do consider the material he was talking about to be relevant, but I will continue to listen. Senator Colbeck.

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

One of the more pre-emptive points of order I've ever heard. The Australian government is primarily responsible for funding and regulation of the aged-care sector, and part of that regulatory process is a number of standards which aged-care providers are responsible for meeting. That includes management of infection control and a range of other measures. There are 44 items that have to be complied with in the standards, and we regulate and assess all aged-care providers across the country to ensure that they do meet those standards. Of course, we have processes to deal with them if they don't. (Time expired)