Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill, together with the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014, makes minor amendments to the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995 and the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Care Charges Act 1995.

Together, the amendments will overcome a current anomaly in the legislation relating to the recovery of past care costs where the care recipient receives a compensation payment.

Recovery in these circumstances is currently possible in relation to the past costs of residential care, but not home care. This anomaly is removed by bringing the capacity to recover past care costs for home care into line with existing arrangements for residential care.

The amendments remove the current inequity between the two types of care, overcome the potential for delayed entry into more appropriate residential care until compensation payments are settled, and minimise financial loss to the Commonwealth.

Of the small package of amendments needed to achieve this measure, this bill introduces those that expand the existing charges on compensation for the purpose outlined here. Amendments made by this bill to sections 7 and 8 of the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Care Charges Act 1995 have been introduced separately to the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 to comply with section 55 of the Constitution. I commend this bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.