Aged Care gets more time to meet resident protection legislation
Aged care providers will be given more time to comply with the new Government measures to strengthen the protection of their residents, the new Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, has announced.
The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, in its inquiry into the Bill, recommended on 9 March that the commencement date for the legislation, originally 1 April this year, should be deferred for at least a month – particularly in relation to the reporting provisions. In response, the Australian Government will move an amendment to the Bill to extend the implementation timeframes.
The new complaints investigation arrangements and the new Aged Care Commissioner will be in place by 1 May 2007, while the new compulsory reporting and whistleblower protection requirements will start on 1 July 2007.
“This extension of time will give the sector a breathing space – a chance to set up appropriate procedures and educate their staff about the Government’s new requirements,” Mr Pyne said. “Compulsory reporting raises many sensitive issues. It will be beneficial for providers to have more time to come to understand the requirements and to make the necessary changes.”
The amendment will also provide more time for further consultation with the aged care sector, through the Aged Care Advisory Committee, on the detail of the new arrangements – which will be set out in subordinate legislation.
