Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present four government responses to committee reports as listed on today's Order of Business. In addition, I present two government responses to advisory reports of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 and the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017, as listed on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows—

Australian Government response to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee report: Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017

June 2018

Introduction

The Australian Government welcomes the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee (the Committee) report on the Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017 (the Bill).

The original Bill as introduced sought to implement changes to:

These changes were contained in 18 schedules:

Schedule 1: Creation of the Jobseeker payment

Schedule 2: Cessation of Widow B Pension

Schedule 3: Cessation of Wife Pension

Schedule 4: Cessation of Bereavement Allowance

Schedule 5: Cessation of Sickness Allowance

Schedule 6: Cessation of Widow Allowance

Schedule 7: Cessation of Partner Allowance

Schedule 8: Minister's Rules

Schedule 9: Changes to activity tests for persons aged 55 to 59

Schedule 10: Start day for some participation payments

Schedule 11: Intent to claim provisions

Schedule 12: Establishment of a drug testing trial

Schedule 13: Removal of exemptions for drug or alcohol dependence

Schedule 14: Changes to reasonable excuses

Schedule 15: Targeted compliance framework

Schedule 16: Streamlining tax file number collection

Schedule 17: Information management

Schedule 18: Aligning social security and disability discrimination law

On 22 June 2017, the Senate, referred the provisions of the Bill to the Committee for inquiry with the report tabled on 6 September 2017. The Committee received 63 submissions and held public hearings in Sydney on 30 August 2017 and Melbourne on 31 August 2017.

Submitters provided feedback in written submissions and in oral evidence to the committee, particularly covering:

Having considered the feedback, in its tabled report the Committee recommended that the Bill be passed. The Australian Government supports this position. Dissenting Reports by Australian Labor Party Senators and the Australian Greens recommended that the Bill not be passed. The Australian Greens made an additional recommendation that there be an independent public review of the compliance system for people who are unemployed before any reform to the existing framework. Further detail is provided on the following pages.

The Bill passed Parliament on 27 March 2018 with Government and non-Government amendments. The Bill received Royal Assent on 11 April 2018.

Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017

Recommendations made by the Committee

1. The Committee recommended that the Bill be passed.

Government Response: Supported.

The Government announced a comprehensive Welfare Reform package in the 2017-18 Budget.

The original Bill contained an integrated suite of measures to deliver a simpler and fairer welfare system, including:

The measures are designed to build a simpler system that provides more encouragement and support for people transitioning to work. The Bill demonstrates that the Government is committed to improving the integrity of the welfare system and ensuring that recipients receive the necessary support and incentives to address barriers to employment, to look for work and to take a suitable job when it is available. This will benefit not just the job seekers themselves but also their families, the wider community and the Australian economy.

The current income support system of multiple payments is very complex and difficult for people to navigate. The new JobSeeker Payment will be the main working age payment, consolidating seven current payments, and creating a single payment for those of working age with capacity to work now or in the near future. The JobSeeker Payment will simplify the income support system and treat people in similar circumstances consistently.

2. Dissenting Reports by the Australian Labor Party Senators and the Australian Greens recommended that the Bill not be passed

Government Response: Noted.

The following addresses key concerns raised in the dissenting reports. Jobseeker Payment Measures (Schedules 1-8) The dissenting Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee reports raised concerns about the impact of the changes on Wife Pension recipients who do not transfer to the Age Pension or Carer Payment. These recipients who are aged between 39 and 63 will remain frozen at their current rate when they transition to the new JobSeeker Payment and will not be worse off.

With regards to the 200 Wife Pension recipients currently living overseas who are not anticipated to transition to another income support payment, a large proportion of these women currently receive a part-rate of Wife Pension because they have insufficient Australian Working Life Residency to receive a full rate of payment. Some Wife Pension recipients have their payment reduced because of their levels of income and assets, which indicates that they have other income sources besides their Wife Pension.

The dissenting Committee reports also raised concerns about the impact of replacing Bereavement Allowance with the JobSeeker Payment. The existing bereavement arrangements create unnecessary administrative inefficiencies and complexity for bereaved people. Streamlining these arrangements will help to simplify the welfare system.

During the Senate debate of the Bill, the Government acknowledged that some pregnant women may receive less assistance under the new arrangements than they currently do. This is because pregnant women can receive bereavement support until their child is born, which may be longer than the standard 14 weeks available to other people. For this reason, amendments were made to Schedule 4 of the Bill to increase the additional upfront support for these women from two fortnight's payment, to three fortnight's payment, plus an additional amount determined by the length of the recipient's bereavement period. The additional amount starts at $1,000 for pregnant women who give birth or their pregnancy ends within 14 weeks of their partner's death, with the maximum amount payable up to $4,250. This will ensure that pregnant women who suffer the loss of a partner will generally be no worse off financially compared to current payment arrangements. Similar arrangements will be in place for bereaved pregnant mothers on Youth Allowance. The Senate passed this amendment to Schedule 4 (Cessation of Bereavement Allowance) in December 2017.

Subsequently, the Government supported an amendment by Pauline Hanson's One Nation party which changed the calculation of the upfront lump sum amount for non-pregnant bereaved people so that the amount paid is broadly equivalent to the amount of Bereavement Allowance paid over 14 weeks. This ensures that recipients claiming bereavement support under JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (other) will generally be no worse off under the new arrangements compared to the support currently available under Bereavement Allowance.

Minor amendments were also made to Schedule 6 to change the start date of the Cessation of Widow Allowance measure and to better align the mutual obligation exemption wording with the relevant qualification.

Amend the activity test for persons aged 55 to 59 (Schedule 9) The Bill will also strengthen the employment focus of mutual obligations and better connect mature age job seekers with the labour market, while still recognising that volunteering can be a valuable stepping stone into paid work.

In the 2017-18 Budget it was announced that job seekers aged 55-59 would no longer be able to fully satisfy the activity test through undertaking 30 hours per fortnight of any combination of paid and voluntary work. Instead, they would need to undertake at least 30 hours of a combination of paid work and voluntary work, with at least 15 hours of those hours in paid work. There are 40,000 job seekers currently within this age group, and around 7,500 of them meet their mutual obligation requirements through volunteering alone and are not expected to look for work. These job seekers do not benefit by being excused from looking for a job.

Data shows that mature age people are 13 times more likely to find work when actively looking for it. The OECD has previously recommended that mutual obligations for mature jobseekers be strengthened and made consistent with other cohorts.

However, to secure passage of the Bill through the Senate, the Government amendments have been passed to impose a time limit of 12 months for job seekers aged 55 to 59 to be subject to the proposed activity test changes, instead of for the full term of income support receipt.

For their first 12 months on an unemployment payment, mature-aged job seekers will be able to satisfy the activity test through a combination of at least 30 hours per fortnight of paid and voluntary work, with at least 15 hours being in paid work. After 12 months in receipt of payment this would be relaxed so that any combination of paid and voluntary work of at least 30 hours per fortnight would fully meet the activity test. Individuals who have been receiving payment for more than 12 months at the commencement of the measure will not be subject to the changes in the activity test. As an indication of the number of job seekers who may be affected following this amendment, at 31 December 2017, around 1,100 job seekers who were fully meeting their requirements through voluntary and/or paid work had been in employment services for less than 12 months.

The Australian Labor Party and the Greens' dissenting reports suggest that the measure would have an adverse impact on the volunteering sector. However, neither the original nor amended measure would stop older job seekers from undertaking approved voluntary work or have more than minimal impact on the number of volunteers or the hours contributed towards the volunteering sector.

The Australian Labor Party and the Greens' dissenting reports also suggest that the Government has not provided any additional support to help these job seekers. However, the Government is investing over $110 million in a mature age reskilling package to help older Australians re-train and find work in addition to existing programs such as the Restart wage subsidy program.

Faster connection to employment services (Schedule 10)

The Bill will also encourage job seekers to connect more quickly with employment service providers such as jobactive and Transition to Work. For job seekers subject to RapidConnect, their Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (other) payment will generally commence from the date they attended their initial appointment with their provider, instead of being paid from the date the recipient first contacted the Department of Human Services or lodged their claim, as they currently are.

Connecting job seekers more quickly with employment services will improve their chances of finding work faster, and this measure will encourage this behaviour.

The Australian Labor Party and the Greens' dissenting reports both raised the issue of extended delays for job seekers due to inability to attend appointments and the impacts on vulnerable job seekers. Labor's report also raised concerns on how this measure would impact on job seekers in rural and remote areas. However, the measure already addresses these concerns.

As soon as a job seeker submits a claim to the Department of Human Services, they will be advised of available provider appointments in their area. Where an appointment is available within two business days, the job seeker will be required to attend that appointment and their payment will commence from the day they attend. Because providers are contractually required to have appointments available within two business days, this is ordinarily what will occur.

However, if for some reason the only available appointment is more than two days away, the job seeker will be required to attend the next available appointment. In this case, once they attend the appointment, their payment will commence from the date the appointment was booked, not the date they attended, so that they are not unfairly penalised for the provider's inability to provide an appointment within two business days.

In both cases payment will be made on the job seeker's first scheduled payday. As is currently the case, payment is usually made in arrears and backdated to the appropriate commencement day, which will be the date the job seeker attended their provider appointment if it was within two days of them submitting their claim or the date the appointment was booked if an appointment was not available within two days.

Vulnerable job seekers who are currently exempt from RapidConnect will also not be subject to this measure. This includes job seekers who are medically or otherwise exempt from their requirements, youth unable to live at home, or those with a disability or illness affecting their capacity to work. The measure will also not apply to job seekers in remote areas that are serviced by the Community Development Program.

The Government considers that with these safeguards, this is a fair measure that simply makes income support for able job seekers contingent upon them showing they are genuine about finding work by connecting with an employment services provider as soon as possible.

Intent to Claim Provisions (Schedule 11)

Following amendments to the Bill, the new Schedule 11—Intent to Claim Provisions, retains and amends the current intent to claim provisions in the social security law. The intent to claim provisions will now apply to a person in vulnerable circumstances. The amendment includes an instrument making power to allow a legislative instrument to define a vulnerable claimant for the purposes of the intent to claim provisions.

Vulnerable claimants will be those who have a genuine difficulty in collating their documentation, and will include, but not be limited to, being homeless, affected by a major disaster or family and domestic violence, a recent humanitarian entrant or recently released from prison or psychiatric confinement.

For all other claimants, the date of claim will be the date the claim is lodged rather than the date they initially contact the department. The purpose of the measure is to encourage social security claimants to provide timely and complete information in support of claims.

It is reasonable for applicants to provide information that is available to them when lodging a claim and to do so in a timely manner. The 'intent to claim' provisions were introduced at a time when claim forms were mailed to claimants, completed by the claimants, and then returned by mail. With the advent of technology that allows people to gather and submit documentation quickly and easily, this level of assistance is generally no longer necessary or appropriate. These provisions allowed leniency for claimants by effectively backdating their entitlement to payment to the date they initially contacted the Department of Human Services and indicated their intention to claim.

Substance Misuse Measures (Schedules 12, 13 and 14)

The Bill contained three measures to help ensure job seekers address substance abuse issues that may be preventing them from meeting their mutual obligation requirements, or getting work. These measures are designed to better encourage and support job seekers to take reasonable steps to overcome those issues so they can find work. This includes changes which will ensure that job seekers with substance abuse issues remain actively engaged in appropriate activities, including treatment, to address their barriers to work, rather than being exempt from all mutual obligation requirements for a period, as can currently occur.

The Bill will also allow the tightening of reasonable excuse rules to prevent job seekers from repeatedly using drug and alcohol dependency as an excuse for not meeting their requirements without being prepared to do anything about it. Instead, they will be encouraged to undertake treatment as part of their mutual obligation requirements. The Government has agreed to exclude participants in the Community Development Programme from this measure.

The dissenting report by the Australian Greens claims that the tightening of reasonable excuse does not recognise the complicated nature of drug and alcohol recovery. However, the measure does take this into account. Where an individual has used drug or alcohol dependency as a reasonable excuse, providers would work with existing referral services to help job seekers into treatment. If treatment is not available, or treatment professionals judge that treatment is not appropriate for the individual's circumstances, existing reasonable excuse provisions would continue without change.

A third measure in the Bill was to establish a two year trial of random drug testing for 5,000 new recipients of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). Government amendments were passed in the Senate to remove this measure from the Bill. The Government remains committed to the drug testing trial and believes that randomised drug testing can be an effective way of identifying welfare recipients for whom mandated treatment could be successful. The Government will continue constructive discussions with the crossbench and seek to progress the drug testing trial through separate legislation.

The Australian Greens' dissenting report expresses concern that the new section 28C in Schedule 13—remove exemptions due to drug and alcohol use provides the Secretary of the Department of Jobs and Small Business "exceptionally broad power which goes far beyond what is necessary to achieve the stated purpose."

Broadly, section 28C would allow the Secretary to determine, by legislative instrument, categories of income support recipients who are 'declared program participants'. These recipients would be excluded from the application of the new job seeker compliance framework and the removal of exemptions for drug and alcohol misuse. It is the intention of section 28C to allow people who are participating in the Community Development Programme to not be subject to these measures.

Subsection 28C(2) also gives the Secretary the power to provide for the operation of social security law in relation to a person who becomes, or stops being a declared program participant. This is needed to enable arrangements to be made for people moving between the Community Development Programme and jobactive or Disability Employment Services, should they relocate.

Legislative instruments made under this section would face Parliamentary scrutiny through the disallowance process. When the instrument is tabled, any Senator or Member could move a disallowance motion and if that motion were not defeated or withdrawn within 15 sitting days the instrument would cease to operate.

In addition to this necessary flexibility, originally the Bill contained a power to use the legislative instrument to modify provisions in the social security law as they apply to declared program participants. This power was intended to modify particular social security provisions via legislative instrument in the event of unintended consequences relating to the exclusion of 'declared program participants'. The Government has amended the Bill to limit the powers of the Secretary in this regard by removing section 28C(3).

In the unlikely event that there are unintended consequences relating to 'declared program participants', these will be able to be addressed through legislative change with full parliamentary oversight, if required.

Targeted Compliance Framework (Schedule 15)

The Australian Greens dissenting report describes the targeted compliance framework as a 'punitive approach'. However, as well as being more effective, the new framework should actually be much fairer than the current compliance framework. Penalties will be directed to those with a history of persistent non-compliance and who, following multiple assessments, have been found able but unwilling to meet their requirements. Those who are found to be having genuine difficulties will not be subject to penalties but will have their requirements reviewed and, where needed, will receive additional assistance. In addition, as part of negotiations to secure passage of the Bill, the Government agreed to further strengthen protections for job seekers by increasing from five to six the number of failures without valid reason that a person could commit before they would generally receive a financial penalty. In contrast, under the current compliance framework, job seekers experience multiple financial penalties before they undergo any assessment to see if they are having difficulty meeting their requirements.

The new targeted job seeker compliance framework will not affect the majority of job seekers who are genuine in their efforts to find work, but will be stringent on those who are not, with appropriate financial penalties for job seekers who persistently and deliberately do not meet their requirements.

In their dissenting Committee reports, both the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Greens have called for the continuation of waivers and provider discretion. This would retain the most ineffective features of the current compliance framework, which allow deliberately non-compliant job seekers to avoid consequences for their actions.

Waivers under the current framework have resulted in only 7 per cent of applied penalties for job seekers who repeatedly fail to meet their requirements or refuse suitable work being served. That means there is no real consequence for job seekers in 93 per cent of cases (based on 2015-16 data).

Provider discretion allows providers to effectively ignore non-compliance, even where the job seeker has no reasonable excuse. This results in inconsistent and unfair application of penalties. The National Social Security Rights Network acknowledged this in its evidence at the Senate Committee hearing, stating that the new framework "deals with a range of problems in the existing system. They include an arbitrary levelling of penalties depending on a provider discretion".

Under the new compliance framework, providers will still exercise discretion as to whether or not they find the excuse offered by the job seeker to be acceptable, in which case no financial penalty or demerit will be applied—the appointment will just be re-booked as currently occurs. However, they will be unable to ignore blatant non-compliance with no excuse.

The Department of Human Services will also retain the discretion they currently have in relation to all decisions about applying financial penalties.

The Australian Labor Party's dissenting report also cites evidence from ACOSS that sanctions in the United Kingdom have driven people away from support. There are a number of key differences in the United Kingdom penalty arrangements which mean that evidence from the United Kingdom is not applicable in an Australian context. Under the targeted compliance framework there will be multiple assessments of a person's ability before they face lasting financial penalties, with the maximum penalty being four weeks' loss of payment, applicable only for an eighth failure without reasonable excuse or outright refusal of an actual job. In contrast, in the United Kingdom, a Universal Credit recipient may lose payment for of up to three months for a first offense without additional assessment, depending on the type of failure.

3. In their dissenting report the Australian Greens recommended that there be an independent public review into the compliance framework for people who are unemployed before any reform to the existing framework.

Government Response: Noted.

A further review prior to the implementation of the targeted compliance framework is unnecessary. The new framework was developed in full awareness of the views of all of those with an interest in this matter, including welfare sector organisations, employment services providers and job seekers. It was also based on detailed analysis of the administrative data, drawing on expertise from those areas of the three relevant Government departments that have day to day involvement with the job seeker compliance framework.

Further, a core role of the public service is the continued evaluation of the programs and policies for which they are responsible for implementing, as well as staying informed about various stakeholder views.

However, the Government recognises that formal review of the compliance framework is necessary to ensure that arrangements achieve the policy intent. For this reason, the Government has already committed to review of the targeted compliance framework 18 months after commencement.

This review would of course look at the effectiveness of the framework and any unintended adverse effects, taking into account the views of relevant experts and stakeholder groups.

Australian Government response to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee Interim Report:

Effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and accreditation framework for protecting residents from abuse and poor practices, and ensuring proper clinical and medical care standards are maintained and practised

June 2018

Recommendation 1

The committee recommends the extension of this inquiry into the effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and accreditation framework for protecting residents from abuse and poor practices, and ensuring proper clinical and medical care standards are maintained and practised.

Noted

The Australian Government notes this recommendation.

Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that in the current aged care oversight reforms being undertaken, all dementia-related and other mental health services being delivered in an aged care context must be correctly classified as health services not aged care services, and must therefore be regulated by the appropriate health quality standards and accreditation processes.

Not supported

The Australian Government does not support this recommendation but recognises and supports good clinical governance within aged care services to support access to high quality clinical care.

The Department is developing a Single Aged Care Quality Framework, which includes the development of a single set of contemporary aged care quality standards expected to be implemented from 1 July 2018 and assessed against from 1 July 2019. The new draft standards focus on quality outcomes for all consumers, including those with diagnosed mental health conditions and dementia, and require organisations to demonstrate that clinical care is best practice, safe and effective, and tailored to the consumer's needs, goals and preferences to optimise their health and wellbeing. This includes timely referrals to other organisations and health professionals where necessary. The draft standards also address recommendations of the Carnell-Paterson Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes, including requirements for providers to have systems in place for minimising the use of restraint (including physical and chemical) and identifying and responding to abuse and neglect of consumers. When clinical care is delivered, providers will also be required to establish and maintain an effective clinical governance framework, which includes open disclosure processes, as an integral part of their organisation's governance. The new standards have been designed to be consistent, where possible, with standards in other sectors that intersect with aged care, such as health care. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency is working to produce guidance material to support the implementation of the draft standards and to assist organisations to comply with them.

On 18 April 2018 in response to the recommendations of the Carnell-Paterson Review, the Government announced the establishment of a new independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to oversee the approval, accreditation, assessment, monitoring, complaints handling and compliance of Commonwealth subsidised aged care providers.

Starting from 1 January 2019, the functions of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (Quality Agency), the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner (Complaints Commissioner) and the regulatory functions of the Department of Health will transition to the new Commission. A new Chief Clinical Advisor will provide advice to the Commission, particularly on complex clinical matters.

Prior to the transition to the new Commission, the Quality Agency, the Complaints Commissioner and the Department of Health will continue to strengthen their intelligence sharing and data analysis to target compliance activity to those providers or services with the highest risk of non-compliance. The Quality Agency has also strengthened training for its surveyors around understanding risk.

The Government has also announced initiatives to strengthen risk profiling of aged care providers to improve the identification of risks to people in aged care; and provide more information to give greater transparency about the quality of care being provided to ensure consumers are able to make informed choices about their care. These reforms build on the Government's recent introduction of unannounced re-accreditation audits across residential aged care facilities.

People with dementia account for 52 per cent of all residents in residential aged care facilitiesa1a and most of these people are cared for successfully under current aged care arrangements. There is a risk that this recommendation, if implemented, could create a disincentive for aged care providers to accept people with dementia and increase regulatory burden.

The Australian Government is however investing in a range of evidence-based, dementia-specific sector supports and resources to further assist providers and their workforce to deliver quality of care. This includes establishing Specialist Dementia Care Units (SDCUs) to complement the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service and the Severe Behaviour Response Teams.

SDCUs will be community based residential aged care services. They will deliver a psychosocial model of care largely delivered by trained and experienced care workers focused on behaviour management and avoidance of behaviour triggers. The model of care will include regular comprehensive assessment and review of clients by visiting medical specialists, for example geriatricians and psychogeriatricians who meet the relevant medical standards.

The SDCUs will provide care predominantly for people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (tier 6 of the Brodaty Triangle) who are unable to be effectively cared for by mainstream aged care services but who do not require care more appropriately delivered in acute or other health settings. The objective is for people to have their behavioural and psychological symptoms stabilised within the SDCU and be supported to transition back to a less intensive care setting, most likely a residential aged care service.

The Australian Government also supports better links to broader mental and cognitive impairment service providers and through the 2018-19 More Choices for a Longer Life Budget package has invested $82.5 million over 4 years. This will improve access to mental health treatment services for people with a diagnosed mental health condition living in a residential aged care facility.

Primary Health Networks will now commission a range of services to best match the needs of individuals living in residential care through a person centred stepped care approach. Services will be made available from early 2019. Commissioned mental health services are required to meet the National Standards of Mental Health Services 2010.

1 The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling NATSEM (2016) Economic cost of dementia in Australia 2016-2056

Australian Government response to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee report: Future of Australia’s aged care sector workforce

June 2018

Introduction

The Australian Government welcomes the report of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee (the committee) into the future of Australia’s aged care sector workforce.

The Government thanks the committee for its work, and notes the wide range of matters covered in submissions and evidence from individuals and organisations with an interest in the role of the workforce in delivering high quality services and care for senior people in Australia.

Australian Government funding for aged care services

The Australian Government is the principal funder of aged care, providing estimated funding of $17.1 billion in 2016–17 to support aged care consumers and the sector. Government spending on aged care will continue to grow over future years and is expected to reach over $22.3 billion by 2020–21. The delivery of services to senior people under these arrangements depends upon the workforces of funded providers.

Continuing reform and a responsive workforce

As noted by the committee, the aged care sector is in the midst of a continuing transition process which started in 2013.a1a Fundamentally, this is about moving towards a consumer-centred demand-driven system. Providers, their workforces, consumers and informal carers are being supported by the Australian Government in a variety of ways to respond to these reforms.

The Government and providers have a shared interest in an aged care system that is sustainable and gives consumers choice and control over their care. The workforce is a key enabler in ensuring these outcomes.

Aged care workforce strategy taskforce

The Committee’s report acknowledges the Australian Government’s commitment to establish a taskforce to develop an aged care workforce strategy. 12 of the Committee’s 19 recommendations raise considerations relating to the work of the taskforce and development of an aged care workforce strategy.

The taskforce has been established and commenced its work. On 14 September 2017, the Minister for Aged Care announced the appointment of the taskforce chair, Professor John Pollaers. Taskforce membership and Terms of Reference were announced on 1 November 2017, with the first meeting held on 30 November 2017.

The taskforce will examine a range of issues to boost workforce supply, address demand issues and improve productivity of the aged care workforce, and is due to report to the Minister for Aged Care by 30 June 2018.The taskforce is a significant opportunity for the sector to develop a considered view of what needs to be done to achieve a skilled and sustainable workforce that supports safe, quality aged care for senior people. The taskforce is engaging and consulting with interested stakeholders through mechanisms including technical advisory groups, roundtables, workshops, workforce summits, public submissions processes, aged care community consultations, and specialist advisers.

On 14 March 2018 the Australian Government and the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) announced the establishment of a specific-purpose Aged Care Industry Reference Committee (IRC) to focus on the reforms arising from the work of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce. The Aged Care IRC will be responsible for:

Aged care and disability workforces

The Government has also committed funding of $33 million over three years, from 2017-18, to help existing service providers in the disability and aged care sectors grow their workforce, particularly in regional, rural and outer suburban communities. This package will help employers increase the supply of care workers in the right geographical areas to meet the needs of both National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and the aged care sector.

Outcomes of two independent reviews with workforce components

The outcomes of two independent reviews have become available since the committee’s 20 June 2017 report. The findings will inform the Australian Government and contribute to the taskforce’s consideration of workforce issues.

The Aged Care Legislated Review report, tabled in Parliament on 14 September 2017, covered a range of workforce matters.

The report of the Review of the National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes, released by the Minister for Aged Care on 25 October 2017, covers improvements to regulatory activities applying to quality of care in residential aged care facilities.

Action on workforce matters involves a number of Commonwealth bodies

The involvement of a number of government agencies with policies, activities and programs relevant to the aged care workforce featured in the Commonwealth’s information and evidence to the Committee.a2a

The Department of Health led the coordination of this response to the Inquiry that includes information from the Department of Education and Training.

The Government has considered the 19 recommendations made in the committee’s report and responses follow on each recommendation.

Recommendation 1

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy taskforce be composed of representatives of service providers, workforce groups, including nurses, care workers/personal care attendants, medical and allied health professionals, and others, and representatives of consumers and volunteers. Representatives of workers, care providers and consumers from regional and remote areas should also be included.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders, including those identified by the committee, in the development of an aged care workforce strategy.

The taskforce will access required expertise and ensure effective engagement with the significant number and variety of interests in the development and implementation of a strategy.

The Department of Health is responsible for supporting the taskforce to access advice and guidance on a number of specific areas or issues, including such aspects as:

Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that the government, as a key stakeholder in aged care in terms of regulation, policy, intersections with other sectors and the coordination of government involvement, and as the key source of funding and revenue for the aged care sector, must be an active participant of the taskforce and must take ownership of those aspects of the workforce strategy that will require government intervention and / or oversight.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the recommendation, noting that outcomes or priorities for action are likely to be for the medium to long-term.

The Government will take an active part in the work of the taskforce, principally through the Department of Health, which includes:

Aged care reform is a continuing process, affecting consumers, informal carers, providers and their workforces, with the current reform program starting in 2013 and expected to cover a 10 year period. This means any workforce matters arising for consideration by the Government would need to be dealt with in the context of broader ageing and aged care policy development.

Recommendation 3

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy include a review of existing programs and resources available for workforce development and support and ensure consideration of the NDIS Integrated Market, Sector and Workforce Strategy to identify overlapping issues and competitive pressures between the sectors and how they may be addressed.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the recommendation.

Existing programs and resources

The Australian Government’s submission (number 293) to the inquiry summarised the programs and resources available across government to aged care providers for workforce development and support, including coverage of such aspects as dementia, palliative care, workforce data and supports for providers in rural, remote and very remote locations. This information can be drawn on and considered by the taskforce as part of its work in developing a workforce strategy.

Consideration of the NDIS Integrated Market, Sector and Workforce Strategy

The Australian Government agrees the NDIS Integrated Market, Sector and Workforce Strategy should be considered in the context of developing the aged care workforce strategy.

The Department of Health and the Department of Social Services are committed to working in a complementary and coordinated way to employ cross-sectoral approaches to growing the disability and aged care workforce.

A practical and immediate reflection of this is in the Boosting the Local Care Workforce 2017-18 Budget measure. The Specialist Coordinator element of the measure will engage a group of up to 10 nationally focussed Specialist Coordinators to assess and respond to changes in the disability and aged care sectors. They will work with key stakeholders to identify and analyse risks, including observing consumer demand versus provider supply and identifying gaps in the market.

The Specialist Coordinators will address ten focus areas, including supporting participants with high support needs; allied health providers in the NDIS and aged care, specialist disability accommodation providers; supporting market development in remote areas across aged care and NDIS; and encouraging more Indigenous owned organisations to register as NDIS providers or work in the aged care sector.

The recommendations they make to Government will help to address identified market issues, and provide an input to the development of an aged care workforce strategy.

Recommendation 4

The committee recommends that, as part of the aged care workforce strategy, the aged care workforce strategy taskforce be required to include:

development of an agreed industry-wide career structures across the full range of aged care occupations;

clear steps to address pay differentials between the aged care and other comparable sectors including the disability and acute health care sectors;

mechanisms to rapidly address staff shortages and other factors impacting on the workloads and health and safety of aged care sector workers, with particular reference to the needs of regional and remote workers including provision of appropriate accommodation; and

development of a coordinated outreach campaign to coincide with developments introduced through the workforce strategy to promote the benefits of working in the aged care sector.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation.

The Government would expect the aged care workforce taskforce to consider the range of matters noted in the recommendation.

The Government notes, however, it would not be appropriate for the taskforce to deal with workplace relations matters for which individual employers are responsible for, or deal with matters that are subject to the jurisdiction of industrial tribunals.

Higher education

The Turnbull Government’s changes to higher education are focused on improving the student experience and better preparing students for the workforce – including greater transparency around admissions and student outcomes, and holding universities to account in responding to student and labour market needs.

Staff shortages in rural and remote workforces

The Australian Government funds a Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Service Development Assistance Panel to assist aged care service providers to address issues of staff shortages and factors impacting workloads by undertaking reviews and providing recommendations on organisational and staffing structures and gaps in the organisations work practices.

Project requirements have been broadened to assist organisations to develop and implement operational strategies which will address staff shortages and other factors impacting on workloads and the health and safety of aged care workers.

Funding is also available through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program to support the engagement and retention of aged care staff in Indigenous communities. Grants are allocated to provide secure staff accommodation which is essential to the delivery of aged care services.

Skills development – access to the Skilling Australians Fund

The Australian Government-funded Skilling Australians Fund, prioritised towards apprenticeships and traineeships, includes occupations in high demand and growth industries, as well as rural and regional Australia. The Skilling Australians Fund underpins a new partnership with the states and territories. From 2017–18 to 2020–21, an estimated $1.5 billion will be available through the Skilling Australians Fund. Payments from the Skilling Australians Fund will support agreed state and territory government projects for skills, aligned with priorities outlined in the new partnership agreement.

Projects supporting apprenticeships, traineeships, pre-apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships in the aged care sector, which meet the priorities and requirements of the Skilling Australians Fund, will be eligible.

Recommendation 5

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy taskforce include as part of the workforce strategy a review of available workforce and related data and development of national data standards in a consultative process with aged care sector, and broader health sector and other relevant, stakeholders. Any nationally agreed data standards should enable comparison across and between related sectors where possible.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation.

The Commonwealth publishes a range of specific data about Australia’s workforce participation trends and on the health, care and social assistance workforces.

Taken together, these data can be drawn on and analysed to inform business decisions by both established and prospective providers about their service strategies, and the capabilities and capacity needed to align with those strategies.

It is recognised that there is no one single set standards to the collection of these data and as a result existing data sources may not be well aligned or comparable.

In developing the strategy the taskforce will need access to expert advice on available workforce data, including the Department of Health’s National Health Workforce Dataset and Australian Bureau of Statistics’ industry and occupation collections.

Recommendation 6

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy include consideration of the role of informal carers and volunteers in the aged care sector, with particular focus on the impacts of both the introduction of consumer directed care and the projected ageing and reduction in these groups.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the recommendation, noting there are different considerations affecting volunteers, who can be part of the workforce, and informal carers.

Recommendation 7

The committee recommends that the national aged care workforce strategy includes consideration of the role of medical and allied health professionals in aged care and addresses care and skill shortages through better use of available medical and allied health resources.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the recommendation, and expects the taskforce to consider the role of the above mentioned professions in the development of the strategy.

A mechanism to inform the taskforce in relation to medical specialist can be through the National Medical Training Advisory Network (NMTAN), which is an expert advisory group, supported by the Department of Health. The NMTAN has published the ‘Australia’s Future Health Workforce – Doctors’ report presenting long-term, national workforce projections for doctors to 2030. The NMTAN is currently undertaking supply and demand modelling of medical specialities. The information in the reports can be used to inform strategy development.a3a

Recommendation 8

The committee recommends that the government examine the introduction of a minimum nursing requirement for aged care facilities in recognition that an increasing majority of people entering residential aged care have complex and greater needs now than the proportions entering aged care in the past, and that this trend will continue.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation. The Government expects the development of a workforce strategy would consider the composition of the workforce in light of the changing needs of older people.

Recommendation 9

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy include consideration of and planning for a minimum nursing requirement for aged care services.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation. The Government expects the development of a workforce strategy would consider nurses amongst the health professionals and other occupations engaged or represented in providing aged care services.

Consideration of this recommendation is linked with Recommendation 8.

Recommendation 10

The committee recommends that the government consider, as part of the implementation of consumer directed care, requiring aged care service providers to publish and update their staff to client ratios in order to facilitate informed decision making by aged care consumers.

Australian Government response

The Government notes the recommendation proposing residential aged care service providers publish and update their staff to client ratios.

There is already the opportunity for providers to include information outlining how they manage staffing at their facility in the aged care homes service finder tool on the My Aged Care website, in order to market this aspect of their offer to consumers.

The Government will consider additional approaches to achieve the intentions of this recommendation, which empower consumers with other forms of guidance and information on how to evaluate staffing levels and skills mix when considering an aged care home. For example, this may include questions they can ask providers about how staffing is managed in their service.

Through the Department of Health, the Government will continue to monitor the implementation of consumer directed care in home care and related reforms.a4a

See also: response to Recommendation 12.

Recommendation 11

The committee recommends that the government take immediate action to review opportunities for eligible service providers operating in remote and very remote locations to access block funding, whether through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program or through other programs. The committee further recommends that consideration be given to amending the 52 day limitation on 'social leave' for aged care residents living in remote and very remote aged care facilities.

Australian Government response

Access to block funding in remote and very remote locations

The Australian Government supports reviewing opportunities for eligible service providers operating in remote and very remote locations to access block funding. In the 2018-19 Budget, the Australian Government made $105.7 million available to expand the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program progressively over 4 years. This will allow eligible service providers operating in remote and very remote locations to access block funding.

The Government recognises the challenges aged care service providers in rural and remote regions face. As a result the Government continues to respond to the needs of this group through a range of programs, funding supplements, education and training, and grants.

The findings of the Australian National Audit Office’s Report on Indigenous Aged Care were tabled in Parliament on 31 May 2017. Overall the report’s findings were positive, concluding Government-funded aged care services are largely delivered effectively to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) has also been found to be effective in increasing access to culturally appropriate aged care services for elderly Indigenous Australians.

In 2017 the Government provided an opportunity for eligible residential aged care service providers that are not existing NATSIFACP providers to apply for funding under the NATSIFACP. This resulted in three additional North Queensland residential aged care services being funded under the program.

Social leave for aged care residents in remote and very remote facilities

The Australian Governments notes the part of the recommendation relating to consideration of amending the 52 day limitation on ‘social leave’. Any changes of this legislative provision would need to be considered by government in the context of wider aged care reform.

Recommendation 12

The committee recommends that the Department of Health review the implementation of consumer directed care to identify and address issues as they emerge. Specific attention should be paid to any impacts on remuneration, job security and working conditions of the aged care workforce, and impacts on service delivery in remote and very remote areas, and to service delivery targeting groups with special needs, as identified in the Section 11-3 of the Aged Care Act 1997.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation.

Through the Department of Health, the Government will continue to monitor the implementation of consumer directed care in home care and related reforms. This will include consideration of any additional steps that may be needed to support providers and their workforces in transitioning to and embedding the reforms, particularly in rural, remote and very remote locations.

The department uses a variety of methods to identify any emerging issues and monitor progress with implementation, such as feedback on where local providers are experiencing implementation challenges, including in rural, remote or very remote locations. The department also analyses the home care data to understand the issues that may have an impact on provider viability and service availability, particularly for rural and remote providers and consumers. Through these processes, the department may identify where additional support may be needed or where additional consumer supports may be required to assist consumers in exercising choice.

The Government notes that issues relating to remuneration, job security and working conditions of the aged care workforce are matters for providers as employers. The Aged Care Quality Standards applying to aged care providers funded by the Government include provision for regulatory compliance, including compliance with employment laws.a5a

See also: response to Recommendation 10.

Recommendation 13

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy ensure consideration of the service delivery context in which the workforce is expected to perform. The strategy should also include medium and long term planning for location- and culturally-specific skills, knowledge and experience required of the aged care workforce working with diverse, and dispersed, communities throughout Australia. This must specifically include addressing workforce issues specific to service delivery in remote and very remote locations.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the recommendation.

The factors noted in the recommendation relating to the delivery of aged care services are taken into consideration in policy settings and funding for the aged care system. They are pertinent considerations for workforce planning for the sector as a whole and by providers and individual organisations.

Increased Australian Government funding of the Viability Supplement for aged care services in rural and remote locations

In addition to specific measures to support aged care services in remote and very remote locations outlined under the response to Recommendation 11, the Government provides a Viability Supplement for residential care, a payment made under the Aged Care Act 1997 to assist aged care services in rural and remote areas with the extra cost of delivering services in those areas.

Reprioritising the Aged Care Workforce Supplement

Rural Workforce Agencies

The Australian Government funds Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) in each state and the Northern Territory to deliver the Rural Workforce Agency Program. Under this program, RWAs are funded around $86m (GST inclusive) over three years to deliver a range of activities aimed at improving health workforce access, quality and sustainability. RWAs collaborate with their state colleagues through jurisdictional Health Workforce Stakeholder Groups (Stakeholder Groups) with a focus on addressing health workforce shortages and maldistribution. Through these Stakeholder Groups, areas of need will be identified and prioritised for the provision of workforce support and assistance. RWAs also provide various levels of support to graduates (tailored to their individual needs) training in regional, rural and remote regions of Australia.

Aged Care Diversity Framework

On 6 December 2017 the Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Ken Wyatt MP, launched an Aged Care Diversity Framework (the Framework). The Framework addresses common barriers affecting access to aged care services for people with diverse characteristics and life experiences to drive cultural and systemic improvements to the aged care system.

Under the Framework, initial action plans will be developed to focus on the particular needs of four diverse groups.

It is anticipated the first three action plans will be developed by May 2018, with the homelessness action plan to be developed later in 2018. The Framework is envisaged to be a living document and action plans may be adjusted as the need arises over time.

Recommendation 14

The committee recommends that all recommendations of the Senate Education and Employment References Committee inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (VET) providers in Australia be implemented.

Australian Government response

The Australian Governments does not support the recommendation. The Government tabled its response to the report on 7 February 2018.a6a

See also: response to Recommendation 15.

Recommendation 15

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy taskforce work with Australian Skills Quality Authority to establish nationally consistent minimum standards for training and accreditation.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government supports the need for the aged care workforce strategy taskforceto work with key bodies involved in skills development and training under the reformed vocational education and training (VET) arrangements in place since January 2016. This includes the role of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and those Industry References Committees with a stake in VET packages of relevance to aged care sector skills and occupations.

The Government notes that ASQA, in accordance with the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and associated Standards, enforces the minimum standards set in the endorsed component of the relevant training package.

The establishment of training package components as requirements is a matter for the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC). This consists of industry leaders from across Australia, and was established in May 2015 by the Council of Australian Governments’ Industry and Skills Council. The AISC provides leadership and guidance to the VET system, bringing a strong industry-based perspective to enhance responsiveness, quality and relevance within the sector.

The AISC draws on advice from Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) which are made up of people with experience, skills and knowledge of their particular industry sector.

IRCs drive priorities for the review and development of training packages. The IRCs are supported by a Skills Service Organisation (SSO). The SSOs are funded by the Australian Government to serve as independent professional bodies which work with their industry or industries to develop training packages.

Recommendation 16

The committee recommends that the aged care workforce strategy taskforce work with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) to establish aged care as a core part of the nursing curriculum, establish dementia skills training, and develop greater collaboration between the sector and nursing colleges to increase student placements in aged care facilities.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation, and notes there is established machinery for considering the issues involved.

The Department of Health’s Nursing and Midwifery Education Advisory Network (NNMEAN) is an advisory body responsible for the provision of high level strategic advice to Health Ministers on an evidence based approach to planning, education, and employment of nurses and midwives in Australia. This covers all sectors of employment, including in aged care.

The NNMEAN is developing a range of strategies to inform policy initiatives and innovation to improve the sustainability of nursing in Australia. Membership includes ANMAC and representatives from the health and aged care sectors.a7a

Dementia skills training

The Department of Health’s submission to the committee outlined the programs and funding directed at dementia-related training and provider supports for aged care workers, including for health professionals working with older Australians in health and aged care settings. a8a

An example is the Dementia Training Program (DTP) which delivers accredited education, upskilling, and professional development for the workforce providing dementia care in the primary, acute and aged care sectors. This includes personal carers, nurses, medical specialists, GPs, pharmacists, allied health and other relevant health professionals aiming to improve the care and wellbeing of people living with dementia.

The DTP provider uses a network of teams to ensure training is available nationally, including in rural and remote areas, through face to face training, online learning, and a comprehensive range of free online resources and webinars.

Delivered by a consortium of five universities and Dementia Australia, the DTP has a strong Essential Collaborators Network with members from leading aged care, specialist dementia care, health education (including nursing) and research organisations. The DTP learning pathway is designed to enable clients to participate in training options which progress their knowledge from a foundation level to advanced dementia knowledge. The DTP supports choice in learning preferences, depths of engagement, training modality, and accreditation needs. It enables flexible training entry and exit points according to topic, time, and organisational factors.

Recommendation 17

The committee recommends that the government and the aged care workforce strategy taskforce develop a specific strategy and implementation plan to support regional and remote aged care workers and service providers to access and deliver aged care training, including addressing issues of:

the quality of training;

access to training;

on-site delivery of training;

upskilling service delivery organisations to deliver in-house training; and

additional associated costs relating to regional and remotely located staff.

This strategy should take account of consultation and analysis such as that undertaken through the Greater Northern Australia Regional Training Network (GNARTN).

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation, and would expect the taskforce to consider the various aspects identified.

The work undertaken by the Greater Northern Australia Regional Training Network, and other organisations which made submissions to the committee on regional and remote aged care workforce issues, can be drawn on to inform consideration of aged care training for regional and remotely located staff.

Recommendation 18

The committee recommends that the government work with the aged care industry to develop scholarships and other support mechanisms for health professionals, including nurses, doctors and allied health professionals, to undertake specific geriatric and dementia training. To succeed in attracting health professionals to regional and remote areas, scholarships or other mechanisms should make provision for flexible distance learning models, be available to aged care workers currently based in regional and remote areas, and include a requirement to practice in regional or remote locations on completion of the training.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation, and would expect the taskforce to consider the various aspects raised in the Recommendation.

Administered through the Department of Health, the Heath Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP), established in June 2017, consolidates existing scholarship programs into a single program with a single administrator. The new program will deliver better outcomes and return on investment by targeting health outcomes of Australians through focusing support on up-skilling, capacity building, and retention activities for the existing health workforce with a commitment to rural service.

Through the HWSP, the Government is investing $11 million per year over three years from 2017-18 to increase access to health services in rural and remote areas experiencing skill shortages through the provision of scholarships and bursaries to increase the skills, capacity and/or scope of practice of health professionals (including doctors, nurses and the allied health professionals) committed to rural service.

Under the Regional and Rural Enterprise Scholarship Program, the Australian Government is providing a total of $24 million to support at least 1200 people from low socio-economic status backgrounds in regional and rural areas to access university study. The scholarships are eligible for courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as medical studies, nursing, pharmacy, dental studies and public health science.

The Government is also providing $15.2 million over four years to support the establishment and operation of regional study hubs across Australia, to improve access to higher education for regional and remote students who are studying via distance education at any Australian university.

Recommendation 19

The committee recommends that the government examine the implementation of consistent workforce and workplace regulation across all carer service sectors, including:

a national employment screening or worker registration scheme, and the full implementation of the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers;

nationally consistent accreditation standards;

continuing professional development requirement;

excluded worker scheme; and

workplace regulation of minimum duration for new worker training.

The regulation of the workforce must address:

historical issues impacting on employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and

ways to ensure the costs of this regulation are not passed on to workers.

Australian Government response

The Australian Government notes the recommendation.

The recommendation contains a number of elements, each of which would need to be considered in the context of experience with the full rollout of the NDIS (to be completed by 2019-20), the issues to be assessed by the sector-led taskforce in developing an aged care workforce strategy during 2017-18 and 2018-19, and wider aged care reform.

National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers

Personal Care Workers, Assistants in Nursing and a number of allied health disciplines are not included in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). In recognition of the need to provide for public safety for health care workers not regulated under NRAS, Health Ministers agreed in April 2015 to the establishment of the Code. This Code includes minimum standards expected of all health care workers, will include national prohibition orders, and includes workers in the aged care sector.

All state and territory governments are in various stages of passing relevant legislation for the Code in their jurisdiction, with four jurisdictions (New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, and Victoria) having the Code in place for unregistered health practitioners at the time of this response.

1 The Aged Care Financing Authority’s fourth report 2015-16, pages 24-25 summarised the scope and progress of the projected 10-year reforms see: https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/10_2016/acfa_annual_report_on_funding_and_financing_of_the_aged_care_industry_2016.pdf

2 See submission number 293 at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Aged_Care_Workforce/Submissions

Additional information was also provided in March 2017: see http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/AgedCareWorkforce45/Additional_Documents

3 Australia’s Future Health Workforce – Doctors’ report is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/australias-future-health-workforce-doctors

4 The Australian Government has made no decision on possible approaches to or timing of introducing consumer directed care into residential aged care.

5 See: standards for providers at: https://www.aacqa.gov.au/providers/accreditation-standards

6 Australian Government response to the Senate Education and Employment References Committee report—Getting our money’s worth: the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (VET) providers in Australia is available at: https://docs.education.gov.au/node/49981

7 Information about the work of NNMEAN is at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/national-nursing-midwifery-education-advisory-network

8 Submission number 293, pages 31-34.

Government Response to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee: Report on the Arrangements for the postal survey

The Australian Government thanks the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee for their work on the Report.

The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey (Marriage Survey) fulfilled the Government's election commitment to allow every eligible Australian to have their say on the issue of same-sex marriage. The Marriage Survey was a success. It was designed and conducted in fewer than 100 days and comprised a single question, asked of just over 16 million eligible Australians. Particular effort was made to ensure the survey was simple and could be completed by those travelling or living overseas, those in remote communities, people with a disability, and those who speak different languages.

Recommendation 1

The committee recommends that questions of human rights for minority groups should not be resolved by a public vote.

Response

The Government notes the recommendation. The Government commissioned the Marriage Survey to honour the commitment it made prior to the 2016 election to give the community a say on whether same-sex marriage should be legalised.

The Marriage Survey did not itself amend the law, rather it provided an undisputable public mandate for change that helped ensure the passage of legislation, after previous attempts to legislate change had failed. The exceptional level of public participation in the Marriage Survey showed both a strong public endorsement for the process of the survey itself as well as endorsement for social change. Other significant changes have been previously introduced through processes that included asking the views of the Australian public. This included the 1974 national anthem survey and the 1967 referendum that removed discriminatory references to Indigenous people in the constitution.

Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that the Australian Government consider how further funding and support could be offered to mental health and LGBTIQ organisations to help address the consequences of the postal survey.

Response

The Government supports and recognises the importance of ongoing funding for mental health treatment for all Australians. The Government also recognises the impact of mental health issues and suicide in the LGBTIQ community and funds a number of programs specific to their needs, including providing funding to the National LGBTI Health Alliance to deliver programs to support the ongoing mental health requirements of LGBTIQ Australians.

The Government also funds a number of other mental health services that provide a range of support, from telephone crisis support through to online peer forums, with many addressing LGBTIQ specific issues. These include QLife, Qheadspace, Lifeline, Kids Helpline, and ReachOut.

The 2017-18 Federal Budget provided $15 million in additional funding for mental health research, $9.1 million to improve access to psychological services through telehealth in regional, rural and remote Australia, and $11.1 million for suicide prevention programs. In January 2018, the Government also announced a further $110 million to extend and expand mental health programs for young Australians.

The Government recently launched Head to Health, a digital gateway which aims to support people to more easily access online and phone mental health and wellbeing advice provided by a range of trusted organisations. This provides a further avenue of support for vulnerable people, including those in the LGBTIQ community.

Recommendation 3

The committee recommends that the Australian Electoral Commission actively engage with remote communities and Indigenous peak bodies to increase the number of enrolled people in remote electorates and to increase the participation of enrolled people in local, state and federal elections.

Response

The Government supports this recommendation, noting that the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for conducting federal elections, including maintaining the Commonwealth electoral roll. Increasing the participation of enrolled people in local and state elections is a matter for state and territory governments.

The Government recognises the importance of assisting disadvantaged communities in participating in the electoral process, and supports the Indigenous Electoral Participation Program (IEPP) which aims to help close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage in electoral participation: http://www.aec.gov.au/Indigenous/.

The AEC is currently reviewing the IEPP as part of its commitment to continuously educate, improve enrolments and increase participation in federal elections.

Government response:

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Advisory Report on the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017

(Report tabled 25 June 2018)

______________

Government response:

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Advisory Report on the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017

(Report tabled 7 June 2018)