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The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
Presented and read a first time
Inspector-General of Aged Care Bill 2023
No. , 2023
(Health and Aged Care)
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1
2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2
3............ Objects................................................................................................ 2
4............ Simplified outline of this Act............................................................. 3
5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4
6............ Act binds the Crown........................................................................... 8
7............ Application of this Act....................................................................... 9
Part 2—Establishment and functions and powers of the Inspector-General of Aged Care 10
Division 1—Introduction 10
8............ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 10
Division 2—Inspector-General of Aged Care 11
Subdivision A—Inspector-General of Aged Care 11
9............ Inspector-General of Aged Care....................................................... 11
10.......... Functions of the Inspector-General.................................................. 11
11.......... Independence of Inspector-General.................................................. 12
Subdivision B—Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care 12
12.......... Establishment of the Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care 12
13.......... Constitution of the Office................................................................. 13
14.......... Functions of the Office..................................................................... 13
Division 3—Reviews by the Inspector-General 14
Subdivision A—Annual work plans 14
15.......... Inspector-General must prepare annual work plan........................... 14
16.......... Variation of annual work plan.......................................................... 14
Subdivision B—Process for conducting reviews 15
17.......... Reviews by the Inspector-General................................................... 15
18.......... Notice of review............................................................................... 16
19.......... Inspector-General may invite submissions....................................... 17
20.......... Submissions may be made publicly available.................................. 18
Subdivision C—Review reports 19
21.......... Draft review report........................................................................... 19
22.......... Opportunity to respond must be given before including certain information in draft review report 20
23.......... Unauthorised disclosure of draft review reports etc......................... 20
24.......... Final review report........................................................................... 21
25.......... Tabling and publication of final review report................................. 22
26.......... Certain information not to be included in review reports................ 23
Subdivision D—Reporting misconduct by Commonwealth officials 24
27.......... Reporting misconduct by Commonwealth officials......................... 24
Division 4—Other functions and powers 25
28.......... Reviews of implementation of Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations 25
29.......... Extra reports to Parliament............................................................... 26
Part 3—Administrative provisions 27
Division 1—Introduction 27
30.......... Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 27
Division 2—Appointment of the Inspector-General 28
31.......... Appointment..................................................................................... 28
32.......... Term of office................................................................................... 28
33.......... Acting appointments......................................................................... 28
34.......... Remuneration and allowances.......................................................... 29
35.......... Leave of absence for Inspector-General........................................... 29
36.......... Other paid work................................................................................ 29
37.......... Other terms and conditions............................................................... 29
38.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 30
39.......... Termination of appointment............................................................. 30
Division 3—Staff and consultants etc. 31
40.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 31
41.......... Persons assisting the Inspector-General........................................... 31
42.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 32
Part 4—Information management 33
Division 1—Introduction 33
43.......... Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 33
Division 2—Information-gathering powers 34
44.......... Power of Inspector-General to obtain information........................... 34
45.......... Information that must be given in private........................................ 35
46.......... False or misleading information....................................................... 35
47.......... False or misleading documents........................................................ 36
48.......... Inspector-General may retain documents and things....................... 37
49.......... When documents and things must be returned................................. 37
50.......... Access to premises etc...................................................................... 38
51.......... Privilege against self-incrimination and penalty privilege............... 40
52.......... Legal professional privilege............................................................. 41
53.......... Secrecy provisions............................................................................ 42
Division 3—Protections relating to disclosing information 44
Subdivision A—Protecting identity of disclosers in certain circumstances 44
54.......... Disclosures qualifying for protection............................................... 44
55.......... Confidentiality of identity of disclosers........................................... 44
Subdivision B—Protection from victimisation 46
56.......... Victimisation prohibited................................................................... 46
Subdivision C—Immunity from liability for certain disclosures 48
57.......... Disclosures qualifying for protection............................................... 48
58.......... Disclosure that qualifies for protection not actionable etc............... 48
59.......... Liability for false or misleading disclosures unaffected.................. 49
60.......... Person’s liability for own conduct not affected................................ 49
61.......... Claims for protection........................................................................ 49
62.......... Protection has effect despite other Commonwealth laws................. 50
Division 4—Secrecy of information 51
63.......... Unauthorised use or disclosure of protected information................ 51
64.......... Authorisations to use or disclose information.................................. 51
Part 5—Compliance and enforcement 54
65.......... Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 54
66.......... Civil penalty provisions.................................................................... 54
67.......... Physical elements of offences.......................................................... 55
68.......... Contravening an offence provision or a civil penalty provision...... 55
Part 6—Miscellaneous 56
69.......... Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 56
70.......... Protection from liability................................................................... 56
71.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 56
72.......... Delegation by the Inspector-General................................................ 57
73.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 58
A Bill for an Act to provide for the appointment of an Inspector-General of Aged Care, and for related purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts: