QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr RAE (Hawke—Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) (14:12): Let me be clear. Assessments are always conducted by qualified human assessors, with clinical input documented from start to finish. This is about delivering a system that is efficient, accurate and fair so that, no matter where in Australia someone lives or who does their assessment, they are treated equitably.

Being a responsible steward of this system upon which so many older people rely means approaching changes in a careful and considered way. The government have been clear we share the intent of the private senator's bill, but we're concerned that in practice it would lead to inconsistent and subjective decisions and increased wait times for older people. This morning I announced that the government will itself, through legislation, establish a new legislated escalation option so outcomes of the aged-care Integrated Assessment Tool can be changed in extenuating circumstances.

This means that, in the small number of cases where a person's complex circumstances are not fully captured by the tool, under this new pathway their assessment can be escalated to the secretary of the department and adjusted if necessary so they get appropriate care. We'll take the parliamentary break to consider what specific form this pathway might take. We'll consult with older people and the sector, and we will, if people are willing, work across the parliament to get the best outcomes for older people.

(Time expired)