Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Today I am delighted to introduce the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013, which contributes to this government's commitment to aged care, a commitment described in the Living Longer Living Better aged-care reform package that provides a 10-year plan for building a new aged-care system—a system for a 21st century Australia.

Consistent with the government's commitment to increased transparency in the quality of aged care, this bill and the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Bill 2013 establish the new Australian Aged Care Quality Agency.

This quality agency will replace the existing Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency from 1 January 2014. It will be the sole agency for approved providers of home care and residential care to deal with quality assurance of their services. This will lead to greater efficiencies, reduced costs and a further commitment to an end-to-end aged-care system.

This bill will facilitate a smooth transition from the current arrangements to the new quality agency. This includes:

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.