21st Nov 2024, 9:12 AM – Senate Aged Care Bill 2024, Aged Care Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Greens amendment

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). The amendment was introduced by West Australian Senator Jordon Steele-John (Greens).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that no person with disability under the age of 65 should remain living in residential aged care from 2025,

(ii) while the Government accepted this recommendation, this Bill works in direct opposition to the recommendation by formalising a pathway to place people under 65 in aged care,

(iii) there are 911 people aged under 65 in residential aged care who are NDIS participants who should be receiving the disability-specific supports they need to exit residential aged care; and

(b) calls on the Government to implement the recommendation of the Royal Commission and ensure no disabled person under the age of 65 remains living in residential aged care".