Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Bills

Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Medication Administration in Residential Aged Care) Bill 2025

Introduction and first reading

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (09:34): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 to further provide for the administration of medication to residents in aged care and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (09:34): I ask the minister for a brief explanation of the bill.

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (09:34): This bill seeks to avoid medicine-related problems for people receiving residential aged care by placing an obligation on Victorian residential aged care providers to ensure that only registered and enrolled nurses administer certain medications; allowing regulations to provide for exemptions and how these circumstances should be managed; and modernising language and terminology, including to align with the new Commonwealth legislation.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.