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New aged care laws face second Senate grilling

2 min read

Two new aged care reform bills  the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and the Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025  will face fresh scrutiny in a second Senate inquiry.

It follows ACT Independent Senator David Pocock winning support for the Aged Care Service Delivery Senate Inquiry to look into the aged care reform delays and withholding of Home Care Packages, with backing from the Coalition, Greens, and Independents. Submissions for that inquiry close on 22 August, with the final report due on 15 September, six weeks before the reforms are implemented

Senator Pocock called for the Senate Inquiry after he led a coalition of 10 Independent MPs and Senators in writing to Minister for Aged Care and SeniorsSam Rae, petitioning for the immediate release of 20,000 Home Care Packages. That move resulted from the Minister for Health, Disability and Aged Care, Mark Butler's revelation that the Government would delay releasing the 83,000 Home Care Packages due to roll out from 1 July this year until 1 November.

The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and the Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 was referred to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on 31 July 2025, with the final report due on 21 August.

In the House of Representatives last Wednesday, Liberal Melissa McIntosh MP said the Coalition will back the legislation but will send the Bills to the Senate for additional scrutiny.

"To be clear, the Aged Care Act 2024 was Labor's package of reforms and was not co-designed with the coalition," said Melissa.

"It is of no surprise that in the first week of the 48th Parliament this government has introduced this bill to amend 325 items of their own legislation that was passed just months ago. That is why we'll be sending this bill to committee to ensure appropriate scrutiny is placed upon the proposed amendments to the Aged Care Act 2024. We remain increasingly concerned and disappointed by the lack of transparency this government has shown to the Australian public throughout their entire process of reform, because 325 changes to their own legislation is not insignificant; 197 repeals to their own legislation is also not insignificant.

"Many of the changes are a result of the government's lack of consultation with older Australians and the broader aged care sector. These changes must be scrutinised to ensure that the process of reform can be implemented in the best possible way."

A public hearing for the second Senate Inquiry will be held on 8 August in Canberra, with submissions closing on the same day. You can find out how to make and lodge submissions here.


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