Senate debates

Monday, 26 November 2018

Bills

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018; In Committee

1:24 pm

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I was wondering whether I could ask my questions before we go to the vote on this series of amendments.

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: If they're related to these amendments, then of course.

Hopefully they are. The government's amendments are quite wide ranging. As I articulated in my second reading contribution, we will be supporting those amendments. We're really pleased that the government responded to the Community Affairs Committee's points, raised in the inquiry, particularly a number of the points I raised in my additional comments on this report. Again, I'll just make the point that it does show the benefit of the committee inquiry process. But there are a few outstanding issues that I want to clarify. During the committee's inquiry into the bills, COTA Australia and other consumer organisations called for the proposed commission to incorporate My Aged Care and the assessment processes within the complaints purview of the commission. The government is not going to do this. Can the minister confirm that he will direct the commissioner to adopt a no-wrong-door policy and ensure that staff connect consumers with the appropriate complaint mechanism?

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