The Aged Care Royal Commission's Final Report, ‘Care, Dignity and Respect’, has been released, making 148 recommendations over five volumes. The report emphasises high-quality care, centred on the service user; and needs-based, rather than rationed, planning and funding.

Unusually, some recommendations are attributed to a single Commissioner where the views of Commissioners diverged. Commissioner Pagone recommends the establishment of an Australian Aged Care Commission as a corporate Commonwealth entity with greater independence, its own board and reporting to the Inspector-General and Minister. Commissioner Briggs emphasises departmental control, suggesting responsibility always sit with a senior Cabinet Minister, and the Department of Health be renamed the Department of Health and Aged Care. Pagone also recommended there be a means-tested category of residential aged care users for whom the government will not fund their support.