The time is now to pass Aged Care Reform Bill
29 Mar 2022
COTA NT, along with other aged care consumer and carer organisations, is urging the Senate to pass the Aged Care Reform Bill in the next two days and get much-needed reforms in place, including an independent pricing authority, a Code of Conduct for aged care workers and providers, and new powers for the Quality and Safety Commission.
COTA NT, COTA Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), National Seniors Australia, Carers Australia, Dementia Australia and the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia are calling on all Senators to support the Bill’s quick passage – which the government should bring on as a high priority – warning that older Australians cannot afford for reforms to be further delayed until well beyond the Federal Election.
“We have three sitting days left for the Senate to pass this legislation, or it cannot be passed until well after the election,” says Sue Shearer, Chief Executive Officer of COTA NT. “That would mean very substantial delays in implementing key Royal Commission recommendations that will support and protect people in aged care.”
“Consumer and carer peak bodies fully understand that some Senators want to see even more comprehensive reforms in this Bill, but the time for that debate is next year when the new Aged Care Act will be introduced.”
The Aged Care Reform Bill No 2 includes:
- The new residential aged care funding tool
- The creation of an Independent Pricing Authority for aged care
- The registration of aged care workers and a Code of Conduct for workers and providers
- Giving the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission power to ban people who do the wrong thing
- Publication of provider financial statements for better transparency
- Strengthening controls over the use of restrictive practices in aged care
- Stronger governance requirements on aged care providers.
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Media contact: Sue Shearer, CEO COTA NT 08 8941 1004
