In April last year the government announced proposed changes to aged care following the extensive Productivity Commission review.
The amendments were trumpeted as the $3.7 billion Living Longer. Living Better reform package with target of legislation being passed and a start date of 1 July 2013. That’s just 13 weeks away.
This is going to be a battle; the five aged care Bills have just entered the Senate Review Committee stage, with a deadline of 17 June to report. This means the five bills need to be debated in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then passed by June 27, the last sitting day before the election. That is 10 days to get through both Houses.
COTA CEO Ian Yates (pictured) points out that the whole sector has geared up for these change. The Bills require the Greens, the Independents and the Opposition to support them if they are to pass quickly. If this doesn’t happen, given the election of 14 September, the sector will be stalled through to Christmas.
The Bills are:
- Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Bill
- Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Bill
- Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (Transitional Provisions) Bill
- Aged Care (Bond Security) Amendment Bill
- Aged Care (Bond Security) Levy Amendment Bill
