Nickolas Varvaris (Barton, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this bill today. These two bills together form an important piece of legislation that the coalition is implementing to assist with Australia's changing demographics. There are three important aspects of these bills.

Firstly, important amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997 reflect the coalition's 2014 budget measure of the aged care workforce supplement under which residential care, home care and flexible care providers in the aged care category receive an increase in basic subsidy. This increase is the coalition's investment and commitment to ensuring our aged care workforce is looked after through increasing the pool of aged care funding. This was contained in the coalition's budget released earlier this year.

Secondly, the bill amends the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010, to support the implementation of the aged care gateway, an online information portal to store changes in aged care, maintain crucial aged care client records and sustain the integrity of Commonwealth systems.

Thirdly, the two bills together amend the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995 and Health and Other Services (Compensation) Care Charges Act 1995 to overcome existing impediments to recovery of past care costs for home care provided to a care recipient who received or receives a compensation payment such as workers compensation. The latter aim to remove inequity between home care and residential care, as well as overcome likely delay in entering residential care until compensation payments are settled, thereby minimising financial loss to the Commonwealth.

Through a 10-year aged care reform package the Australian government continues to build an aged care system that will offer choice and flexibility for older people living in community and residential care. Indeed, our population is living longer due to increased health awareness and better health care. This does not make our ageing population impervious to ailments, and whilst they may not suffer serious illness, they may be less able to be maintained in their households, which means assistance is necessary.

We are fortunate that our aged care system is world class and our senior citizens are given provisions to choose a level and type of care most suited to their needs. Indeed, our current government spends more than $14 billion a year on aged care, and this is projected to increase to about $17.5 billion by the end of 2017. Reforms over this 10-year span are being implemented progressively and will give consumers more choice, easier access and better care. It serves to build a better and more sustainable aged-care system.

Equally important, our aged-care health providers are given funding to continue to do the important work that they do and look after current and future generations of the ageing population. I am pleased to announce that this government is committed to have increased funding of 2.4 per cent of their basic subsidy from 1 July this year. The government will provide $1.5 billion into the general pool of aged-care funding. The Australian government pays for the bulk of aged care in Australia, but, as with all aged-care services, end users may be asked by their service provider to contribute to the cost of their care.

In Barton alone, there are 30 residential care providers, ranging from low care to high care. Some are religiously focused, some are tailored to certain ethnic backgrounds and others appeal to the general population. These customised services demonstrate the various requirements of our ageing population and suit people's preferences and circumstances. As with all consumers in society, the ability for people to choose the level of autonomy afforded in the decision-making process, and transition to the next phase of their lives in dignity, is pivotal in ensuring we truly look after subsequent generations of Australians.

True autonomy is a valued component in Australian life. As discussed earlier, the move towards an integrated online information portal, in our digital age, also reflects autonomy. Transitioning from a previously paperwork driven culture to one that is efficient to manage allows participants and end users control in record management. All this, combined with redirecting the $1.5 billion being directed into the general pool of aged-care funding, is important reform to help providers run their businesses more efficiently and effectively and address the needs of their users.

Today's two bills together form an important piece of legislation the coalition is implementing to assist with Australia's changing demographics. I trust that both sides of parliament support the three important areas this legislation represents. As I mentioned before, our amendments will mean that providers in the aged-care category will receive an important increase in basic subsidy to ensure our aged-care workers can continue to do the fantastic work they currently do. I also mentioned that the crucial $1.5 billion in funding distributed over the next three years will be allocated into the general pool of aged-care funding so that providers can work effectively to ensure the needs of our ageing population are met.

The coalition's 10-year reform plan for aged care will also oversee changes to how information is collected, collated and managed for participants and end users. The introduction of My Aged Care, an online information portal, will ensure important changes to patient information records are maintained and sustained in an efficient manner within our systems.

As Australia sets to face enormous changes in our demographics over the next few decades, we must ensure our social policies aimed at the ageing population work fluidly to address the complex needs of those affected. For Australians, whose values are centred on freedom of choice and social autonomy, our services must equally reflect these values so that our population can age with dignity in the next important stage of their lives. I commend the legislation to the House.

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