Senator WOODLEY (12:14 PM) —I want to be fully informed in this debate. Although we have indicated our support for the legislation, the Democrats are always interested in the debate and want to respond to it. I am still trying to work out the opposition's position on this. I felt it was probably a philosophical position to do with their opposition to any user-pays charges whatsoever and their belief that the Commonwealth should pay all the costs of the aged care industry.

I am not sure if that is so, or if the opposition's proposal to vote against the bill is much more narrow and is to do with their concern about the level of fees. A lot was made in various speeches about the effect on small and rural and remote areas—and some assurances have been given by the government about that.

I am trying to work out from the opposition whether they have a broad philosophical opposition to the whole principle of any contribution from the people who are benefiting from aged care assistance, or whether it is more narrow. Are they simply worried that the level of fees may be too high? Could we get clarification on that from the opposition?