Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, , 56:58 to 1:01:42
Discussion regarding the timeline and receipt of the Ombudsman's draft report on automation and oversight in the aged care sector.
Topics: Health, Integrity
Speakers: Senator The Hon Anne Ruston, Mr Blair Comley, Mr Greg Pugh, Unknown Speaker, Ms Sonja Stewart
Thank you very much. Um I was just wondering um what date the department received the Ombudsman's draft reform report automation and oversight in aged care.
Um Sonia Stewart, Deputy Secretary, Aging and Age Care Group. I think it was the day before or um that it was published by the Ombudsman?
Sorry, the day you received the.
So um my recollection it was in the week uh that ended the 4th of September, but we'll get someone to give you the precise um date. I don't have that uh letter in front of me. It was the first week of September or the last week of August. But someone will have the exact date.
Um who in the department received it?
Well, it was formally addressed to me.
Okay, so it was you?
Yep.
Okay. Um what date did the Minister um either the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors or his office? When were they first made aware of the draft report?
Uh we'll have an officer come to the table that will have that detail. Um maybe one thing I should say, Senator, before that, giving that date. Is the protocols on which a which a draft report from an ombudsman and an o-motion investigation can be provided beyond the department is is restricted? And so we sought approval from the Ombudsman before we actually provided a copy to the age care minister and Minister Butler. And Mr. Pugh will give you the date that it was provided.
Group view, first Assistant Secretary Home Care Division. Sorry, Senator Ruston, um, would you be able to repeat the question around uh the first question, sorry?
Oh, just what date did the department receive the Ombudsman's draft report? The 28th of August? Okay. Um the as you said the it went directly to the Secretary? Yep. So you were received on the 28th of August? Yep. Um and did anybody else in the department receive it on that date? Yep, okay. Um what date did you make the report or its recommendations available to the either the Minister for Um
Provided back to the Commonwealth Ombudsman and that date was the 2nd of October 2026.
That's not accurate. So that there was, as I said, while the draft report was being considered by the department, we sought approval from the Ombudsman to share the draft report with the ministers, and they received that before we submitted our reply. That's right. So just if we could just find out the date of that.
Okay. So when did you submit your your reply? What date did you submit your reply?
It's in the Ombudsman's report, they have published the reply, and it was dated the 2nd of October. We provided the reply.
Yep. So we have that reply.
It's uh it's attached to the Ombudsman.
Yeah, no, no, I've got it. I've got it. Um and then the Ombudsman replied to you on the 23rd of October. So prior to the 2nd of October you sought for the report, the draft report and the recommendations to be shared with the ministers. What date did that happen?
I'll have to just uh grab the exact date from the team.
Okay. How long is that going to take?
Uh the team is just looking at it now, so the next couple of minutes.
Okay. Um, while we're waiting for that, um, before I proceed with any more questions on that. Um just wondering how many new residential age care beds were built in 25-26?