Breaking news: Aged Care Act deal done, reports say

ABC reporter Evelyn Manfield says a deal on aged care reform has been reached, just one day after it appeared Federal Government efforts were scuppered by Coalition party uncertainty.

Previous Labor insights suggested the Aged Care Act would be ticked off following months of negotiations behind the scenes. With bipartisan support essential for its success, the Government believed it had secured informal Coalition support.

However, last-minute concerns over new issues – including union representatives being placed in all aged care homes and the definition of wealthier Australians – saw the Coalition back down from previous commitments.

With few Parliament sitting days on the horizon in 2024, many aged care leaders feared the new Act would not be legislated in time for its projected July 1 2025 implementation date.

But Ms Manfield says Government sources have told the ABC a deal has been reached with the Coalition after the Government made more changes to legislation over the past 24 hours.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said the Coalition has held rushed talks today regarding the Act’s approval after sources said they have agreed to older people paying more towards their aged care.

“What I can’t tell you at this stage is what the Shadow cabinet recommendation to the party room will be. Will it be to agree to the reforms past them, amend them or block them,” he said.

“It is the last day the House sits for a month so if you wanted to introduce that legislation you’d have to do it today if you wanted to get it through in a timely fashion.”

Mr Clennell indicated that it’s unlikely for the Aged Care Bill to be passed today, even if it is presented to Parliament.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has played into those claims, appearing on 2GB and saying;

“I want there to be sustainability in the aged care system. I want people to know that when you know your mum or dad, grandma or grandpa go into an aged care setting, that they’re getting the best care provided.

“And so we’ve been in discussions with the government to have a look at what they’re proposing, and then we’ll make a decision as to what our next step will be.

“We’ve got an ageing population, we have to deal with that and sometimes there are tough decisions to make, but we’ll have that discussion and then see what we do from there.”

Hello Leaders will continue to provide updates on this story throughout the day.