As predicted, the government has been forced to delay the start of the new Aged Care Act, in a move the Opposition called ‘a failure from the start’.
In a carefully worded announcement this morning the federal government has admitted it cannot meet the 1 July self-imposed start date for the new Aged Care Act.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the government was now considering “the extensive and valuable feedback to refine and finalise the draft legislation before it is introduced to Parliament”.
“We will update the commencement date of the legislation following these updates and before the bill is introduced to the Parliament,” Ms Wells said.
“We heard strong feedback that the proposed new Aged Care Act is a once in a generation opportunity for systemic reform that we must get right.
“The new Act is an incredibly important milestone on the Albanese Government’s mission to lift the standard of aged care in Australia and deliver a high quality, person-centred service.
“That is why the Government is committed to working with all members of Parliament to implement these reforms.”
As reported by HSD in February, the odds of the government redrafting and passing the Act by 1 July were slim and growing slimmer following the extension of the public consultation period to 8 March.
KPMG were contracted by the Department of Health and Aged Care to provide a consultation report three weeks after the close of public feedback, meaning any redrafting of the Bill would not formally start until this week at the earliest.
With just 13 weeks to redraft the Bill and submit it to the Parliamentary process, complicated by the fact that Parliament does not sit at all in April and for just four weeks before 1 July, the chances were always slim.
Senator Anne Ruston, the shadow minister for health and aged care, jumped on the news, describing management of the legislation as “a failure from the start”.
“Firstly, the government chose to consult on the 347-page exposure draft over the December and January period – meaning hard-working aged care providers had their Christmas holidays cut short,” said Senator Ruston.
“Then, the government paid more than $800,000 to outsource their consultation to [KPMG]. And now, they have announced a further delay on the draft Act, yet we don’t know how long for.
“It is clear that more time is required, but it is astonishing that the Minister has taken this long to inform the sector of her failure to meet her deadline.
“The Minister must urgently explain to the sector, consumers, and families what the Labor party’s intentions are regarding the future of aged care and when we will actually see the full exposure draft of the new Act.”