Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Van for the question. Today, the government announced a further $563 million in a package of measures to support senior Australians and aged care during the COVID-19 pandemic. These additional targeted measures mean that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government has provided over $1.5 billion to support senior Australians in aged care. This includes continuation of measures to support providers and support the choice of senior Australians. As part of this package, up to $245 million will be provided for a second payment of the lump-sum COVID-19 support payment to residential aged-care providers. Residential providers in metropolitan areas will get $975 per resident and all other providers will receive $1,435. This funding will be used by providers to fund and support enhanced infection control capability, including through an onsite clinical lead, quite importantly. Funding may also be used to address other COVID-19-related costs, such as increased staffing costs, communications with families, and managing visitation arrangements. This additional support will be provided to all mainstream residential aged-care providers and also to Indigenous and multipurpose services. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be undertaking risk assessments and audits to ensure providers are prepared for an outbreak. This funding supports providers with this preparedness. In addition to the risk assessments and audits, providers will report in their end-of-financial-year returns on how the support was used in overcoming additional COVID-19 related costs.