James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make a brief contribution to this debate on the Aged Care (Single Quality Framework) Reform Bill 2018—comforted in the new knowledge I have that Senator Hinch's calcium needs have been well taken care of in recent years! And I contribute to this debate both as a government senator and as the husband of someone who works in the aged-care industry and is very passionate about quality in the aged-care industry. For the record, I don't support and I don't think it is wise to have staff ratios imposed on the aged-care industry. It's an incredibly blunt instrument that will drive up costs and stifle innovation in the sector, and is not the most direct and delivered way to improve quality.

The bill contributes to the implementation of the government's 2015-16 budget decision to work with the sector to develop a new, unified quality framework including a single set of consumer focused quality standards which will apply across all aged-care programs. The bill makes provision for a single set of aged-care standards, to be called the Aged Care Quality Standards, to apply to the providers of Australian government funded aged care. The single quality framework places consumers at the centre of their care and focuses on giving people greater choice and flexibility. It is part of the reforms being progressively implemented in aged care to create a competitive market based system where consumers drive quality and red tape is reduced for providers of aged care.

With these amendments, provision will be made for the same set of quality standards to apply across all types of aged-care services for the first time. The introduction of new standards will reflect contemporary evidence and community expectations of the quality of care and services, with accreditation standards being updated for the first time in 20 years. The standards were co-designed with the aged care sector, including a technical advisory group made up of consumer groups, service providers, academics and experts in the development of aged care or health standards. The Department of Health has also consulted widely with individuals and organisations with an interest in aged care, including in urban, regional, rural and remote areas. The Aged Care Quality Standards are an important part of the broader aged-care regulatory framework. They promote consumer confidence that Australian government funded aged-care services are safe and of consistent quality by setting out our core expectations that apply across all services. This bill is an important part of the government's reforms to promote quality aged-care services that focus on outcomes for consumers.