Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, Explanatory memorandum (Commission bill EM), p. 1.

[2]        Commission bill EM, p. 1.

[3]        Commission bill EM, p. 1.

[4]        Aged Care Quality and Safety (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018, Explanatory memorandum (Consequential bill EM), p. 1.

[5]        The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Aged Care, House of Representatives Hansard,
12 September 2018, p. 8.

[6]        The Hon. Ken Wyatt, AM, MP, Minister for Aged Care, Media release - Federal Aged Care Minister to Commission Review of Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes, 1 May 2017.  

[7]        Ms Kate Carnell AO and Professor Ron Paterson ONZM, Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes Report, October 2017, p. xi.

[8]        Commission bill EM, p. 1. It is intended the Commission will assume the Department of Health responsibilities of approval of providers of aged care, compliance and compulsory reporting of assaults from 1 January 2020. This will require separate legislative amendment.

[9]        Budget 2018, Fact Sheet 5: More Choices for a Longer Life Package.

[10]      Commission bill EM, p. 1.

[11]      Commission bill EM, pp. 1–2.

[12]      Consequential bill EM, p. 2.

[13]      Consequential bill EM, p. 2.

[14]      Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes Report, October 2017, pp. 163–165.

[15]      Commission bill EM, p. 2.

[16]      Commission bill EM, p. 2; Consequential bill EM, p. 1.

[17]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, Human rights scrutiny report No. 11 of 2018, 16 October 2018, pp. 2–8.

[18]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, Human rights scrutiny report No. 10 of 2018, 18 September 2018, p. 20 and p. 81.

[19]      Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2018, 19 September 2018, pp. 1–9.

[20]      House of Representatives, Votes and proceedings, No. 135, 12 September 2018, pp. 1803–1804.

[21]      Selection of Bills Committee, Report No. 10 of 2018, p. 1.

[22]      Journals of the Senate, No. 120, 19 September 2018, p. 3823.

[23]      Journals of the Senate, No. 122, 15 October 2018, p. 3892.

Chapter 2 - Key provisions

[1]        Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, Explanatory Memorandum (Commission bill EM), p. 1.

[2]        Commission bill EM, p. 3.

[3]        Aged Care Quality and Safety (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018, Explanatory Memorandum (Consequential bill EM), p. 1.

[4]        Consequential bill EM, p. 1.

[5]        Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, clause 5.

[6]        Quality Aged Care Action Group Incorporated (QACAG), Submission 1, p. 1.

[7]        NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, p. 4. Submitters and witnesses who expressed support for the proposed merger of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner include: Aged and Community Services Australia, Submission 13, p. 3; Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 1; Australian Association of Social Workers, Submission 23, p. 2; Australian Medical Association, Submission 10, p. 2; Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU); Submission 25, p. 1; COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 3; Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA), Submission 26, p. 1; Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 2; Maurice Blackburn, Submission 6, p. 2; Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 2; Salvation Army, Submission 17, p. 3.

[8]        Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 2.

[9]        Australian Medical Association, Submission 10, pp. 2–3.

[10]      Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, pp. 3–4.

[11]      Ms Pat Sparrow, Chief Executive Officer, Aged and Community Services Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 36.

[12]      Ms Amy Laffan, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 53.

[13]      Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW Inc. (CPSA), Submission 21, p. 4; Aged Care Crisis, Submission 28, p. 3.

[14]      See for example: Ms Pat Sparrow, Aged and Community Services Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 36; Ms Veronica Jamison, State Manager, Victoria and Tasmania, Leading Age Services Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 43; Mr Matthew Richter, Chief Executive Officer, Aged Care Guild, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 43.

[15]      Mr Ian Yates, Chief Executive, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 11.

[16]      Dr Anna Howe, Consultant Gerontologist, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 22.

[17]      Commission bill EM, p. 5.

[18]      Aged and Community Services Australia, Submission 13, p. 3.

[19]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 6.

[20]      Dr Lisa Studdert, Acting Deputy Secretary, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 50.

[21]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 54.

[22]      Dr Lisa Studdert, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 53.

[23]      Commission bill EM, p. 6.

[24]      Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 2.

[25]      Mental Health Commission of NSW, Submission 15, pp. 3–4.

[26]      NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, p. 6.

[27]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, pp. 7–8. This expansion of service coverage was also recommended by National Seniors Australia and Dementia Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 13.

[28]      Aged and Community Services Australia, Submission 13, p. 4.

[29]      Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 4. A similar recommendation was made by Salvation Army, Submission 17, p. 3.

[30]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 48.

[31]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 48.

[32]      QACAG, Submission 1, p. 3.

[33]      NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, p. 2.

[34]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 3.

[35]      FECCA, Submission 26, p. 1.

[36]      Commission bill EM, p. 6.

[37]      Commission bill EM, p. 13.

[38]      Commission bill EM, p. 14.

[39]      Commission bill EM, p. 14; Consequential bill EM, p. 6.

[40]      Pain Australia, Submission 19, p. 4. See also: New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, pp. 5­–6.

[41]      NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, pp. 5–6.

[42]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 11.

[43]      Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 6.

[44]      NSW Mental Health Commission, Submission 15, p. 4.

[45]      Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 6.

[46]      Palliative Care Australia, Submission 20, p. 3.

[47]      FECCA, Submission 26, p. 2.

[48]      Dr Lisa Studdert, Department of Health and Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 46.

[49]      Commission bill EM, p. 7.

[50]      Dr Richard Kidd, Chair, Australian Medical Association Council of General Practice, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 28.

[51]      Office of the Public Advocate Victoria, Submission 24, p. 1.

[52]      Mr Ian Yates, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 15.

[53]      Australian Medical Association, Submission 10, pp. 3–4.

[54]      Dr Nicole Brooke, Member, Australian Association of Gerontology, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 29.

[55]      NSW Mental Health Commission, Submission 15, p. 4.

[56]      Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 3.

[57]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 47.

[58]      Dr Lisa Studdert and Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 47.

[59]      Dr Richard Kidd, Australian Medical Association, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 26.

[60]      Dr Richard Kidd, Australian Medical Association, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 26.

[61]      Australian Association of Gerontology, Submission 9, pp. 3–4.

[62]      Salvation Army, Submission 17, pp. 3–4.

[63]      Mr Ian Yates, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 15.

[64]      Commission bill EM, p. 8.

[65]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, pp. 6–7.

[66]      Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 3.

[67]      Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 3.

[68]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 49.

[69]      FECCA, Submission 26, p. 2.

[70]      Aged and Community Services Australia, Submission 13, p. 3.

[71]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 49.

[72]      Commission bill EM, p. 8.

[73]      Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 5.

[74]      Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 5.

[75]      Ms Rae Lamb, Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 44.

[76]      Mr William Mitchell, Older Persons Legal Services Network, National Association of Community Legal Centres, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 4.

[77]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 54.

[78]      Commission bill EM, p. 9.

[79]      Professor John McCallum, Chief Executive Officer, National Seniors Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 11.

[80]      Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 1.

[81]      Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 5.

[82]      Salvation Army, Submission 17, p. 3.

[83]      Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 56.

[84]      Ms Christina Bolger, Executive Director, Regulatory Policy and Performance, Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 57; Mr Nicholas Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 57.

[85]      Ms Rae Lamb, Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 57.

[86]      Aged and Community Services Australia, answers to questions on notice, 10 October 2018 (received 11 October 2018); Leading Age Services Australia, answers to questions on notice, 10 October 2018 (received 11 October 2018).

[87]      Commission bill EM, p. 8.

[88]      Commission bill EM, p. 9.

[89]      Commission bill EM, p. 9.

[90]      Dr Nicole Brooke, Australian Association of Gerontology, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 29.

[91]      Dr Richard Kidd, Australian Medical Association, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 30.

[92]      Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 5.

[93]      CPSU, Submission 25, p. 2.

[94]      Commission bill EM, p. 19.

[95]      Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 2.

[96]      Commission bill EM, p. 20.

[97]      Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 1.

[98]      Ms Rae Lamb, Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 44.

[99]      Mr Nigel McPaul, General Manager, Service Quality, Dementia Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 12.

[100]    Dr Anna Howe, Consultant Gerontologist, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 22.

[101]    NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, Submission 2, p. 7.

[102]    QACAG, Submission 1, p. 4. A similar recommendation was made by the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 6.

[103]    Commission bill EM, p. 21.

[104]    Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2018, 19 September 2018, pp. 4–6.

[105]    Commission bill EM, p. 21.

[106]    Office of the Public Advocate Victoria, Submission 24, p. 2.

[107]    Australian Heath Practitioner Regulation Agency, Submission 18, p. 1.

[108]    Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 52.

[109]    Commission bill EM, p. 21.

[110]    Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 52.

[111]    Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2018, 19 September 2018, pp. 3–4.

[112]    Commission bill EM, p. 9.

[113]    Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2018, 19 September 2018, p. 2.

[114]    Mr Ian Yates, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 18.

[115]    Australian Medical Association, Submission 10, p. 3.

[116]    Commission bill EM, p. 10.

[117]    Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2018, 19 September 2018, p. 2.

[118]    Mr Craig Gear, Chief Executive Officer, Older Persons Advocacy Network, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 9.

[119]    Leading Age Services Australia, Submission 11, p. 5.

[120]    Ms Christina Bolger, Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 58.

[121]    Commission bill EM, p. 17.

[122]    COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 11.

[123]    Ms Amy Laffan, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 55.

[124]    Commission bill EM, p. 22.

[125]    Department of Health, Submission 12, p. 9.

[126]    Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union, Submission 5, p. 6.

[127]    CPSU, Submission 25, p. 2.

[128]    COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 15.

[129]    Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, Submission 3, p. 2.

[130]    ACSA, Submission 13, p. 4.

[131]    Ms Pat Sparrow, Aged and Community Services Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 36. See also: Mr Ian Yates, COTA Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 13.

[132]    Office of the Public Advocate Victoria, Submission 24, p. 2.

[133]    Mr Craig Gear, Older Persons Advocacy Network, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 2.

[134]    Mr Craig Gear, Older Persons Advocacy Network, Committee Hansard, 10 October 2018, p. 2.

[135]    Mr Craig Gear, Older Persons Advocacy Network, answers to questions on notice, 10 October 2018 (received 11 October 2018), pp. 2–3.

Additional Comments by the Australian Greens

[1]        The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, House of Representatives Hansard, 12 September 2018, p. 9.

[2]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 29.

[3]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 40.

[4]        The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, House of Representatives Hansard, 12 September 2018, p. 8.

[5]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 40.

[6]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 9.

[7]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 9.

[8]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 24.

[9]        Proof Committee Hansard, p. 26.

[10]      The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, House of Representatives Hansard, 12 September 2018, p. 8.

[11]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 10.

[12]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 7.

[13]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 2.

[14]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 3.

[15]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 7.

[16]      Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 3.

[17]      Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 3.

[18]      Older Persons Advocacy Network, Submission 8, p. 4.

[19]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 7.

[20]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 7.

[21]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 7.

[22]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 7.

[23]      See Proof Committee Hansard, pp. 56–57.

[24]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 14.

[25]      Dr Studdert, Acting Deputy Secretary, Department of Health, Proof Committee Hansard, p. 52.

[26]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 15.

[27]      COTA Australia, Submission 7, p. 16.

[28]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 11.

[29]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 24.

[30]      Ms Laffan, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health, Proof Committee Hansard, p. 50.

[31]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 53.

[32]      Ms Laffan, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health, Proof Committee Hansard, p. 53.

[33]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 8.

[34]      Proof Committee Hansard, p. 30.