21st Nov 2024, 6:48 PM – Senate Aged Care Bill 2024 - Third Reading - Pass the bill

The majority voted in favour of a motion to pass the bill. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a third time. As several amendments were agreed to by the Senate, the bill will need to return to the House for our MPs' consideration so they can decide on whether they agree with them.

What does this bill do?

According to the bills digest:

• The Aged Care Bill 2024 proposes to replace existing aged care legislation, including the Aged Care Act 1997, Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018.
• The aim of the Bill is to create a simplified, rights-based legislative framework that comprises one main piece of primary legislation to establish and regulate the aged care system. In addition there will be a single set of subordinate legislation, known as the Rules (compared to the current 14 sets of subordinate aged care principles).
• The Bill relies heavily on Rules which have not been made publicly available at the time of writing.
• The Bill proposes to enact many, but not all, of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety 2021.
• The Bill proposes significant changes to how aged care is funded. While the Commonwealth will continue to be the main funder of aged care, the Bill proposes a refined means-tested user-pays system for co-contributions to everyday living and independence support.
• The Bill has been referred to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2024.