Morrison puts aged care abusers on notice

AGED care will be policed by a tough new cop from 2020 as the Federal Government cracks down on neglect and abuse in the sector.

The Senate yesterday cleared legislation to establish the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to regulate residential aged care services, home care services, flexible care services and publicly funded aged care services.

The Bill will now return to the lower house to tick off amendments, including giving the commissioner powers to make information about providers public.

The commission will regulate provider approvals, quality and prudential compliance, and compulsory reporting from the Health Department.

Former acting chief executive of the Northern Territory’s Department of Health, Janet Anderson, will head up the new regulator.

Greens senator Rachel Siewert said she was pleased the Government had changed the Bill after she raised issues through a parliamentary committee.

But she remained con- cerned it contained no reference to human rights.

Under the amended Bill, the commissioner would have to appoint a chief clinical advisor to help the agency.

She will also be able to make information about commonwealth-funded aged care services public.

“We know that staffing is a huge issue in the aged care sector and families and older Australians should be able to see what is on offer from providers and the skills and training they have,” Senator Siewert said.

Government minister Zed Seselja said the commission would give consumers and providers a single contact point.

“Senior Australians and their loved ones deserve confidence that they and their loved ones are being properly cared for,” he told parliament.

Labor supported the Bill, but criticised the Government for having 121,000 people on the waiting list for home care packages.

The agency is in addition to a recently announced royal commission into the sector.