Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pocock for the question. Senator, I think from the way that you phrased your question you understand that I wouldn't seek to provide a direct response to the circumstances you describe for this individual family for a number of reasons. I don't have all of the information about all that's transpired and I also wouldn't discuss a person's circumstances in a public forum.

But I can tell you that the government understands very clearly the need to reform the aged-care system because of the increasing demands on that system. It's why we have stepped through the reform process that we have in a bipartisan way with those opposite. As you know, the new act came into force on 1 November. It includes a range of provisions. Most important amongst those are the measures that are designed to make sure that the aged-care system can operate sustainably. That's because of the demand we expect from people who wish to age in place, at home, but also to make sure that the funding arrangements for residential aged care are such that we can see continued investment and allow that sector to expand in the way that we know it needs to expand.