Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Hansard source

We know you're coming back next year. I just thought I would acknowledge that and the work that you've done in aged care over your service in this chamber. It's work like yours that has helped shape the policy and priorities going forward. We did go to the election in 2022 promising to lift the standards of aged care in Australia, and I would acknowledge the work that Minister Butler and Minister Wells have done in implementing our policy commitments.

We are committed to continuing to reform aged care in Australia because older Australians deserve high-quality care. It's that simple. Since the tabling of the royal commission report in 2021, 94 of the 136 recommendations have been addressed by the Albanese government. There is now a registered nurse on site in aged care 99 per cent of the time across Australia. This is an incredible achievement and improves the quality of care for older Australians who live in residential aged care.

Under the Albanese government's reforms, older Australians are receiving an additional 3.9 million minutes of care every day. We know that one of the critical findings in the royal commission was that older Australians in residential aged care wanted additional support time and that that would improve the quality of care for them across the centre, so that has been delivered. The Aged Care Bill, passed by this chamber last week, is a landmark reform addressing 58 recommendations to the royal commission. We've done a lot, but there is more to do.