Review of Aged Care Rules 2025 and Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Rules 2025
17 February 2026
On 9 February 2026, the Law Council provided a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs in response to a statutory review of rules specified in subsection 602(12) of the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth), as contained in the Aged Care Rules 2025 (the Rules) and the Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Rules 2025 (the Consequential Rules).
The timeframe for the submission occurred during a challenging time of the year for the Law Council, our constituent bodies and advisory committees, with limited capacity over the summer period. We do, however, appreciate the engagement from the Queensland Law Society and the Law Society of New South Wales, as well as the Law Council’s National Elder Law and Succession Law Committee and National Human Rights Committee.
The Law Council’s submission focuses on the Aged Care Code of Conduct, Aged Care Quality Standards, restrictive practices, and funding of aged care services under the Rules. It emphasises the importance of the Rules reinforcing the intent of the Aged Care Act as a rights-based, person-centred framework that puts respect for the individual’s choices, decisions, preferences and quality of life first.
Recent reforms of the aged care system have been a complex and critical endeavour that requires careful consideration and thorough consultation with stakeholders and the public, and the Law Council considers it to be important to ensure the legislation is working as effectively and efficiently as possible. The Law Council is pleased to take part in this process.
Last Updated on 17/02/2026