Laws responding to the recommendations from the aged care royal commission have become the first to pass federal parliament under the new Labor government, Yahoo News reports.
The legislation amends the aged care subsidy funding model and introduces new reporting and transparency requirements.
It responds to 17 recommendations of the royal commission's final report.
The royal commission response bill was introduced by the former coalition government before lapsing at the federal election and was reinstated when parliament resumed last week.
Under the legislation, the Department of Health and Aged Care will publish star ratings for all aged care services by the end of 2022.
The star ratings system will allow older Australians and their families to compare quality and safety performance of different services and providers.
The laws also extend the Serious Incident Response Scheme to all in-home care providers, from December 1 and introduce a new code of conduct for approved providers, aged care workers and key personnel.
Labor minister Murray Watt told the Senate the passing of the laws showed the importance of putting in place a "decent, well funded, well regulated aged care systems for our older Australians".
"(It's) nothing less than they deserve."
The government has also introduced legislation in the upper house to have a nurse in aged care homes at all times.
Further aged care reforms will be introduced in 2023.
FULL STORY
Aged care law first to pass new parliament (Yahoo News)
