28 July 2022
The ANMF (SA Branch) welcomes the Federal Government’s introduction of legislation this week to ensure a Registered Nurse is on-site in every nursing home 24/7 and that residents receive a minimum amount of safe, quality care every day.
The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 delivers on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s pre-election pledge to reform the troubled aged care sector and implement the Aged Care Royal Commission’s most critical recommendations.
The ANMF (SA Branch) also welcomes new requirements on aged care providers to reveal how much they actually spend on ‘care, nursing, food, maintenance, cleaning, administration’ and their profits, which will bring much-needed accountability and transparency on the billions of taxpayer funds provided to nursing home operators.
In addition, we commend the Federal Government on new legislation which gives millions of Australian workers access to 10-days of paid family and domestic violence (FDV) leave.
The Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 is the result of years of tireless advocacy and campaigning by the ANMF (SA Branch), the ANMF nationally - as well as the ACTU and the broader union movement - on behalf of our predominantly female workforce.
The new national workplace law gives all workers who are covered by the National Employment Standards access to essential financial support to escape violent and abusive relationships.
The ANMF (SA Branch) and ANMF nationally look forward to working with the Government to ensure the implementation of the new reforms.
“We are delighted to see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moving so quickly to implement the aged care commitments he made prior to his Government’s election,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“RNs 24/7, minimum care standards and greater transparency are essential to ensuring much-needed improvements to standards of care.
“We continue to push the case for a 25 per cent pay rise for all aged care workers through the Fair Work Commission. We desperately need wage rises to attract and retain staff who are paid far too little for the critical work that they do,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“The 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave is long overdue and reflects just how seriously FDV is impacting our society and the short and long-term harm done to generations of people.’’