Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would just like to place on record that the government agrees that there should be continual monitoring of the implementation of this legislation. For a number of reasons it does not agree with the Democrats amendment, although I understand the reasons for it. I said earlier that the department intends to closely monitor the compulsory reporting arrangements and the new complaints investigation processes and is the first to agree that there will be much to learn from that process. The data collected by the department during that time will also be significant for informing future policy.

The government has also established the Aged Care Advisory Committee, which comprises a broad range of stakeholders, such as peak industry bodies, approved providers, professional health bodies and consumer groups. The government expects the Aged Care Advisory Committee to continually monitor the implementation of this legislation and to consult the government as it always has done. The department will also continue to work closely with police in all jurisdictions to receive their feedback on the operation of the compulsory reporting arrangements and on any areas in which improvements may be made. The department is already working closely with police to ensure that both the police and the department are well placed to receive any reports of reportable assaults. There are other scrutiny processes, such as estimates and the usual Senate scrutiny, which are available to examine any legislation or the implementation thereof. We will be closely monitoring the implementation of this legislation. I am placing that on the record. We also have the Aged Care Advisory Committee, which is well placed to advice us on this. We believe in ongoing monitoring, rather than waiting two years for a review.