Does the Albanese government really want to strip older Australians of their rights?

The federal government has recently made numerous, welcome commitments to improve the lives of older people living in residential aged care. Yet there is one glaring problem with the aged care reform bill that recently passed parliament.

Schedule nine of the aged care and other legislation amendment (royal commission response) bill 2022 provides immunity to aged care providers and their staff for some of the most objectionable aspects of aged care – the use of restrictive practices without having obtained lawful consent. 

The Guardian