This bill became law on Sep 5th, 2025.
Budget, tax & economy
The bill updates the Aged Care (Accommodation PaymentA lump-sum payment some residents make for their place in residential aged care. This bill is about the levy that helps protect those payments. Security) LevyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. Act 2006 so it works with the new Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports..
The bill was introduced to stop a narrow but important part of the aged-care funding law from breaking when the Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports. replaced the 1997 Act. The levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. Act still used older concepts such as “approved providerThe old provider label used under the 1997 aged-care framework. The bill removes this term from the levy Act.”. Without the update, the Accommodation Payment Guarantee SchemeThe government safety net that protects certain lump-sum accommodation payments made by aged-care residents if a provider cannot repay them. could lose its practical ability to levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. providers after the Commonwealth protects residents’ lump-sum accommodation payments.
The bill sits inside the wider move from the Aged Care Act 1997The older aged-care law. The levy Act still used terms linked to this framework, which is why this bill updates them. to a new rights-based aged-care framework. Its own legal change is narrow, but it was debated alongside larger arguments about whether the new system, home-care rollout and transition rules were ready for the 1 November 2025 start date.
Criticism of this bill mostly came through the wider aged-care reform debate. Few speakers argued that the levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. terminology should remain unrepaired; instead, they used the debate to challenge the government’s timing, scrutiny, home-care rollout and treatment of vulnerable groups during the transition.
Sam Rae introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 05 Sept 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
8 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
43 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The bill updates the Aged Care (Accommodation PaymentA lump-sum payment some residents make for their place in residential aged care. This bill is about the levy that helps protect those payments. Security) LevyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. Act 2006 so it works with the new Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports..
It replaces the old term “approved providerThe old provider label used under the 1997 aged-care framework. The bill removes this term from the levy Act.” with “registered providerThe provider label used under the 2024 aged-care framework. The bill uses this term so the levy can apply under the new system.”, matching the provider language used in the 2024 aged-care framework.
The practical purpose is to keep the Accommodation Payment Guarantee SchemeThe government safety net that protects certain lump-sum accommodation payments made by aged-care residents if a provider cannot repay them. able to recover protected accommodation lump sums from aged-care providers if the Commonwealth has to pay residents back.
The whole Act starts at the same time as the Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports., so the levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. law changes over with the new aged-care system.
The explanatory memorandum says the bill does not change the policy intent of the levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. provisions and has no financial impact of its own.
The Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 makes technical consequential amendments to the Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Act 2006, as required due to the passage of the Aged Care Act 2024.Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
Item 2 amends section 5 of the Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Act 2006 to insert the definition of ‘registered provider’ as required due to the repeal of the Aged Care Act 1997 by the Aged Care Act 2024.Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
the Accommodation Payment Guarantee Scheme would not be able to effectively levy aged care providers to recover lump sums of affected aged care residents.Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The whole of this Act At the same time as the Aged Care Act 2024 commences.Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 bill text
There are no changes to the policy intent or application of the affected provisions. Financial Impact Statement There are no financial impacts related to the provisions contained within the Act.Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
Context
The bill sits inside the wider move from the Aged Care Act 1997The older aged-care law. The levy Act still used terms linked to this framework, which is why this bill updates them. to a new rights-based aged-care framework. Its own legal change is narrow, but it was debated alongside larger arguments about whether the new system, home-care rollout and transition rules were ready for the 1 November 2025 start date.
Royal commission calls for rights-based aged-care law
Parliamentary speeches on the bill pointed back to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, whose first recommendation was a new Act putting older people’s rights at the centre of aged care.
Senate second reading debate ↗New Aged Care Act replaces the 1997 framework
The Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports. replaced the 1997 framework and created the legal trigger for consequential updates across aged-care legislation.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government delays new aged-care system to November
Debate on the bill recorded that commencement of the new aged-care system was deferred from 1 July 2025 to 1 November 2025, sharpening arguments about readiness and home-care packages.
Parliamentary debate ↗LevyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. bill keeps accommodation guarantees working
The government introduced this related levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. bill to replace older provider terminology and keep the accommodation paymentA lump-sum payment some residents make for their place in residential aged care. This bill is about the levy that helps protect those payments. guarantee levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. working under the 2024 Act.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Senate adds home-care and disability messages
During the second-reading stage, senators considered statements about home-care package delays and people under 65 with disability living in residential aged careCare provided in an aged-care home. Greens amendments focused on people under 65 with disability who were still living in this setting..
Senate debate and amendment records ↗Accommodation levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. update becomes law
Royal Assent turned the bill into the Aged Care (Accommodation PaymentA lump-sum payment some residents make for their place in residential aged care. This bill is about the levy that helps protect those payments. Security) LevyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. Amendment Act 2025 before the new aged-care framework commenced.
APH bill page and Federal Register of Legislation metadata ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. For this bill, the Federation Chamber reported back later the same day and the House then completed its remaining formal steps that day.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. The official House record shows the referral out and return both happened on the same day, before the House moved to its final formal votes.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill was referred to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21/08/2025).
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Second reading debate :
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Criticism of this bill mostly came through the wider aged-care reform debate. Few speakers argued that the levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. terminology should remain unrepaired; instead, they used the debate to challenge the government’s timing, scrutiny, home-care rollout and treatment of vulnerable groups during the transition.
Government speakers and the Senate committee majority argued the bills were needed to let the rights-based aged-care system start and should pass without delay.
Home-care packages were delayed
Opposition, Greens and crossbench speakers criticised the decision to delay Support at HomeThe new home-care program planned under the aged-care reforms. Much of the parliamentary criticism focused on its delayed start. while more than 87,000 people were waiting for a home-care package, arguing the transition left older people without help they had already been assessed as needing.
The reform process was rushed
Critics said the government was fixing hundreds of items in recently passed legislation, had not released enough rules and manuals early enough, and gave the Senate inquiry too little time for submissions.
Ministerial powers and automation needed safeguards
Some crossbench speakers supported the transition but warned that temporary rule-making powers and automated aged-care decisions needed transparency, parliamentary oversight and accessible support for older people.
Younger disabled people remained in aged care
The Greens objected that the 2024 framework still left a pathway for people under 65 to be placed in residential aged careCare provided in an aged-care home. Greens amendments focused on people under 65 with disability who were still living in this setting., despite the royal commission recommendation that no disabled person under 65 remain there from 2025.
Regional providers faced extra pressure
Regional Coalition speakers warned that small community-run aged-care homes were already fragile and that new costs or inflexible rules could leave older people in regional towns with nowhere local to go.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Defeated 26 to 32. Support came from Liberal Party, One Nation, Nationals, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Greens.
Passed 33 to 22. Support came from Liberal Party, Greens, One Nation, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor.
Defeated 23 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, One Nation, Nationals, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, and minor parties and independents.
Defeated 12 to 29. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and UAP.
Defeated 16 to 26. Support came from Greens, One Nation, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, and minor parties and independents.
Passed 35 to 21. Support came from Liberal Party, Greens, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor.
Passed 35 to 20. Support came from Liberal Party, Greens, One Nation, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor.
Defeated 14 to 30. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and Nationals.
The Senate agreed to the Opposition statement noting promised home-care places, waiting-list numbers and assessment delays without changing the bill text.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The Senate agreed to Jordon Steele-John's Greens statement on the royal commission recommendation that no disabled person under 65 should remain in residential aged careCare provided in an aged-care home. Greens amendments focused on people under 65 with disability who were still living in this setting..
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The Senate agreed to Penny Allman-Payne's Greens statement calling for more Home Care Packages to be released before the delayed Support at HomeThe new home-care program planned under the aged-care reforms. Much of the parliamentary criticism focused on its delayed start. start date.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Sam Rae supported the bill as a technical companion to the wider aged-care reforms, saying it keeps the accommodation paymentA lump-sum payment some residents make for their place in residential aged care. This bill is about the levy that helps protect those payments. guarantee and provider levyA charge the Commonwealth can impose on aged-care providers to recover money paid out under the accommodation payment guarantee. working under the Aged Care Act 2024The newer aged-care law that replaces the 1997 Act and sets up the rights-based framework this bill supports..
Read in Hansard ↗Rebekha Sharkie supported the bill’s implementation purpose but raised concerns about late rules, broad temporary rule-making powers, automated decisions, home-care delays and higher costs for older people.
Read in Hansard ↗Anne Ruston supported the need for aged-care legislation but argued the bills exposed government mismanagement, delayed implementation and failure to release home-care places as promised.
Read in Hansard ↗Barnaby Joyce used the debate to argue that aged-care policy must account for small regional and community-run facilities, warning that extra costs and rigid rules could leave older people without local care.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
6 speakers · 6 support
“The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 will make technical, transitional and consequential changes to support the commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“At the heart of this act is a statement of rights, a statement of principles, that recognises that older Australians have a voice and autonomy and that they should have a say, and we absolutely should prioritise their preferences because this is about them.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This Bill makes technical, transitional, and consequential changes to support the commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These related bills, through the community affairs committee, received 20 submissions. Only one recommendation was made at the conclusion of this inquiry. That conclusion was that the committee recommended that the Senate pass these bills without delay.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Together they make the technical, transitional and consequential changes needed for the new framework to operate as intended.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill makes consequential amendments to Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Act 2006 which guarantees certain payments made by older Australians who seek to access funded aged care.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
8 speakers · 10 contributions · 7 mixed · 1 unclear
“These bills here today, the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and the Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025, prove exactly that.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We need to be more dynamic in dealing with aged care across all sectors and able to say, 'Okay, we need a policy for community based aged care in small regional towns.'”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In regard to the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, it is important to put on record some of the concerns the coalition has in relation to aged care.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition and I support the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, subject to our amendments.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This isn't refinement; it's repair. It is precisely why we referred these bills to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, so that they would receive the appropriate level of scrutiny these changes deserve.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These changes must be scrutinised to ensure that the process of reform can be implemented in the best possible way. But we will not seek to delay the passage of the bill, because Australians deserve better than another broken promise and delay by this Albanese Labor government, which is consistent with what they have been doing.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Kerrynne Liddle on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Kerrynne Liddle criticised the government’s aged-care rollout and argued older Australians were paying the price, while stressing the importance of grandfathering and the no-worse-off principle.
“Grandfathering arrangements protect those already on their aged-care journey because uncertainty is the last thing they need.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Kerrynne Liddle said she supported the bills because they were needed for aged-care delivery, but framed them as a consequence of government delay and poor planning.
“The main bill is essential to the delivery of aged care, the Aged Care Act 2024 and ultimately the implementation of recommendations from the aged-care royal commission, an inquiry instituted under the former coalition government.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Leah Blyth on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Leah Blyth said the Coalition would not stand in the way of the bills, but criticised the government for a rushed process, delayed commencement and older people waiting too long for home-care packages.
“The coalition will not stand in the way of the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and the related bill moving through and being approved, because it is necessary and it is overdue.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Leah Blyth focused on home-care delays, saying many older Australians were waiting more than 15 months for packages and many more were still waiting to be assessed.
“Many have been waiting over 15 months, and this figure doesn't include those still waiting to be assessed, which is about 120,000 older Australians.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 2 mixed · 1 unclear
“As with the last aged-care bill, it would be remiss of me not to raise concerns around the rather rushed legislative process of this government.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Greens welcome aspects of the main bill that seek to address valid community concerns, including removing the ability for the rules to prescribe caps for cleaning and gardening services.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'll now deal with the second reading amendments circulated by the Australian Greens.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 3 mixed
“In conclusion, while I support this bill, and despite a royal commission, there are still many failings in how we deliver aged care in our nation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Clearly, something has gone wrong in the delivery of the new act—that's obvious because we're here today talking about an amendment that will switch on the act, after the act was supposed to be switched on on 1 July.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I support these changes for the smooth implementation of the new aged-care system, but there are two changes in particular that I wish to highlight today.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Amendments considered
Amendment packages agreed
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21/08/2025)
Referred to committee
The bill was referred to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21/08/2025).
Referred to Committee (31 July 2025): Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21 Aug 2025)
APH bill page notes
