Peak body welcomes amendment bills' passage, calls for final rules

Ageing Australia has welcomed the final passage of the amendment bills — Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 — through both Houses of Parliament, calling for the release of the final rules as soon as possible.

The bills support the commencement of the new Aged Care Act, their passage removing, the peak body said, one of the final hurdles to its successful implementation — adding that providers are now calling on the Australian Government to ensure the release of the final rules and warning that time is running out before the new act commences.

“It’s been wonderful to see all corners of the Parliament putting older Australians first with the passing of these Bills,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said. “Bipartisan support in politics is as rare as the Tasmanian tiger, but the looming introduction of the New Aged Care Act is a wonderful example of politicians putting older Australians ahead of politics.”

On the final rules, Symondson said: “The clock is ticking loudly, with under two months to go before the start of the New Act on November 1, and with these bills passed, the last missing piece of the puzzle is the finalisation of the rules.”

Symondson added: “These reforms are a massive undertaking. We’ve been working relentlessly for over a year to make sure we’re ready, but there are several critical things that simply cannot be done until the rules are formalised by government. Particularly crucial is the fact that homecare agreements can’t be sent out, and resident agreements can’t be finalised.

“Everyone wants this to work, providers most of all, and with the end in sight, we need this last hurdle to be passed. That gives us the best chance of seeing these reforms succeed.”

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