SIL Provider Registration and SDA Design Standards

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, 29 Oct 2026, 7:38:31 to 8:03:01

Discussion regarding the mandatory registration of SIL providers and an update on the review of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) design standards.

Topics: Social services, Procurement

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Speakers: Hon Anne Ruston, Speaker 36, Hon Jenny McAllister, Scott McNaughton, Chris Gatenby, Ellie Whiteaker, Prof Anthony Lawler

Transcript

Prof Anthony Lawler

That's correct.

Hon Anne Ruston

Yep. Um delivering services prior to this Senator,

Hon Jenny McAllister

regrettably that is one that the Commission would have responsibility for. So why don't I take that on notice and then the Commission can provide an answer? So your question is how many providers are in the SEO market and what proportion of those are registered?

Hon Anne Ruston

Yep. Okay.

Hon Jenny McAllister

I think that is publicly available, but yes, we'll find that.

Hon Anne Ruston

Yeah. I'd just be interested to know how many of those providers were already registered at that point in time. Um how many applications for registration are in progress at the moment?

Hon Jenny McAllister

We will take that on notice.

Hon Anne Ruston

Yeah, okay. Sorry, this should have gone to the Commission, should it? Okay, that's fine. I'll put the rest of them on notice. Um then just finally, the review of the SDA design standard.

Speaker 36

That I have a note on that. If you ask me, Senator, uh I'm gonna have to take it on notice, but if we can be clear about what's very simple,

Hon Anne Ruston

I just an update on the KPMG review into the SDA design standards and when the review is due to be completed.

Speaker 36

I'll take that on notice. Uh I believe there's a correction that needs to be.

Scott McNaughton

How much our expenditure was on assistance animals earlier? It's five point four million in the last financial year. That is on the animals themselves as well as all the subsidiary costs, ongoing costs, dietary grooming battery services. So five point four million in total.

Speaker 36

We're in the live testing process with the ICANN tool. And that testing continues.

Chris Gatenby

Okay, and the wood this week, the Commonwealth Ombudsman made some reasonably damning findings about the new edge care tool. And it's led to some unfair outcomes.

Ellie Whiteaker

Thank you, Minister, for your time. Good afternoon.