Aged Care (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 (Cth)
The Law Council thanks the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for the opportunity to make a submission to its inquiry on the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 (Cth) (Bill).
The Bill, which will amend the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth), has three features:
• it imposes responsibilities on approved aged care providers (approved providers) to ensure at least one registered nurse is on site, and on duty, at all times at a residential aged care facility, subject to being granted an exemption;
• it prohibits the imposition of a charge for ceasing the provision of home care and authorises the Minister to impose other requirements in relation to home care charges; and
• it empowers the Minister to require the Secretary to publish information about aged care services or providers.