Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Aged care

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): (177) My question is to the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers. Minister, the not-for-profit and private aged care sectors are being hit with increasing operating costs due to soaring energy bills, and now your government is increasing payroll tax to the private aged care sector, so I ask: what discussions have you had with your federal counterpart to ensure that these private aged care providers, which make up 47 per cent of Victoria’s aged care facilities, are not forced to close their doors?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:07): Thank you, Ms Crozier, for the question. First of all I will say that matters regarding taxation are indeed a matter for the Treasurer, but I am happy to also elaborate a little bit further in response to the question for the Treasurer that Ms Crozier does have. In terms of my responsibilities, what I am responsible for is the provision of public aged care services within Victoria.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, regarding questions to ministers under standing order 8.01, the minister has responsibility, according to the general orders, around the Supported Residential Services (Private Proprietors) Act 2010. That comes under her responsibilities. Services supplied at an SRS may include help with taking medications; help with maintaining personal hygiene ‍– for example, showering and dressing; assistance with staying active and mobile; social and community activities; and supporting contact with health providers. I say that this is directly within her ministerial responsibilities, and I would ask her not to deflect to the Treasurer. This is a question directed to the minister, which she has responsibility for.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you. I call the minister to continue her answer.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Thank you, President, and thank you, Ms Crozier, for an explanation of the general orders – much appreciated. What I will say is that matters regarding taxation –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: If I could be allowed to continue, matters regarding taxation are indeed a matter for the Treasurer –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Sorry, Ms Crozier. For the second time I am two sentences into my answer and being interrupted. If you would like an answer, I am happy to provide you with one.

What I am responsible for is the provision of public aged care services in Victoria – I would say that we have a four out of five rating for public aged care services across Victoria – and that the Commonwealth government is responsible for funding and regulating aged care services. As part of the COVID debt repayment plan, we are introducing a temporary levy to help pay off the debt that was incurred during the one-in-100-year pandemic. That has been well canvassed in recent weeks and certainly since the delivery of the budget. The COVID debt levy is temporary and targeted, and above all else it is responsible in terms of us being able to meet our obligations.

What I will say also is that existing payroll tax exemptions for hospitals and charities continue to apply. Non-profit aged care facilities are typically exempt from the type of tax that you are indeed talking about under the charities exemption. There are a small number who are affected by the payroll component of the levy focusing on large businesses, which will impact on payrolls above $10 million, which is only around 5 per cent of businesses in total. I have not spoken to the private sector about these changes directly, nor have I actually received any correspondence directly, as I am advised, on these matters. But what I would say is that payroll tax matters are indeed a matter for the Treasurer.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): Clearly the minister did not answer my question. It was about her federal counterpart the minister for ageing, so I take it the minister has not spoken to –

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Georgie CROZIER: No, no, the question was very clear. As the Leader of the Government knows, I read out the general order which the minister has direct responsibility for. But I will go to my supplementary. Minister, it is reported that one in five public aged care beds are being closed at the same time your government is imposing an increase in payroll tax to private providers, so I ask: what discussions have you had with the state Treasurer to ensure the aged care sector in Victoria can continue to meet the needs of elderly, vulnerable Victorians and their families?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:11): There were about three questions in there, and I am not sure that any of them are indeed supplementary to the issue of payroll –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I am not sure that any of them are actually indeed supplementary to the original question. But to go to one of the points that you did –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, my question is around vulnerable Victorians in the aged care sector. My supplementary is of course directly related to the substantive, because I am asking what discussions the minister has had with her federal counterpart and now with the Treasurer, because the impacts of the government’s decision –

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ms Crozier. Obviously it is your time to ask a question, and if you do not like the minister’s answer, I cannot direct the minister how to answer. If the minister says to me that what you have asked does not fall within her responsibility, I take that as an answer.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: The issue of payroll tax falls clearly and squarely with the Treasurer, but I have endeavoured to be helpful, Ms Crozier. I would note that for the coalition to be raising these matters when the coalition slashed $75 million from aged care and pushed for the full privatisation of aged care facilities last time they were in government, it is a little bit rich to be making this point.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, the member accused the coalition of taking money from aged care when that is not in fact the case. We increased funding to aged care.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Does the minister want to continue?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Only insofar as to go to Ms Crozier’s original point, where she was suggesting that beds were being shut. There is over 80 per cent occupancy across public sector residential aged care, and this has been consistent over the last two years.

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Sorry, Ms Crozier, you had your opportunity to ask a substantive. You asked a supplementary that clearly does not relate to your substantive.