What the split between royal commissioners means for the future of aged care

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was supposed to deliver a pathway to better care for older Australians.

But that path just got a little more bumpy.

We knew there was some division between the two commissioners.

The final report, released on Monday, shows just how deep that division goes.

Who are the commissioners?

Lynelle Briggs, a former chief executive of Medicare and previously a public service commissioner, was named a royal commissioner in 2018.

Western Australian judge Joseph McGrath was named alongside her. But within two months, he had stepped aside due to family reasons.

Richard Tracey, a former Federal Court judge, was named to replace him, but died in 2019.

By that stage Tony Pagone, another former Federal…