Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (45 of 2025)

Schedule 1   Amendment of the Aged Care Act 2024

Part 1   Amendments commencing immediately after the commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024

Aged Care Act 2024

58A   At the end of section 92

Add:

(5) The System Governor's power to allocate places to an individual under subsection (1) must be exercised in the 2025-26 financial year so that:

(a) a number of places equal to, or greater than, the guaranteed (tranche 1) number (within the meaning of section 91) are allocated to individuals for the service group home support by the end of 31 December 2025; and

(b) at least an additional 43,000 places are allocated to individuals for the service group home support by the end of 30 June 2026.

Note: This ensures the 83,000 services (whether home care packages or home support places) guaranteed by subsection 91(6) are released.

(6) If the System Governor fails to comply with paragraph (5)(a) or (b), the System Governor must give the Minister a written statement that sets out the reasons for the failure.

(7) The System Governor must do so within 14 days of:

(a) for a failure to comply with paragraph (5)(a) - 31 December 2025; or

(b) for a failure to comply with paragraph (5)(b) - 30 June 2026.

(8) The Minister must cause a copy of the statement to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the statement is given to the Minister.