ROYAL COMMISSION HEARINGS HIGHLIGHT GOVERNMENT’S AGED CARE FAILURES

Julie Collins MP.
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4 years ago
ROYAL COMMISSION HEARINGS HIGHLIGHT GOVERNMENT’S AGED CARE FAILURES
Julie Collins MP
Evidence presented this week at the Royal Commission has revealed the Morrison Liberal Government’s continued inaction to keep older Australians in aged care safe.
 
The expert handpicked by the Liberal Government to examine its regulation of aged care in 2017 said the Liberals’ progress on implementing the recommendations of his report was ‘disappointing’.

“… I’m disappointed, however, to learn of the slowness in implementation of the recommendations and I am left with a sense that the 10 recommendations have all been accepted in principle but the devil is in the detail and I can’t help suspecting that some of them are not actually being progressed”
PROFESSOR RON PATERSON, AGED CARE ROYAL COMMISSION HEARING, 7 AUGUST 2019 

This just proves the Liberal Government has learnt nothing from the shocking events that took place at the Oakden nursing home which triggered the review Professor Paterson co-authored.
 
Labor has repeatedly said the Liberal Government has been to slow to respond to multiple reports highlighting regulatory weaknesses and poor processes in Australia’s aged care system.
 
The recent case of residents being evacuated at Earle Haven Retirement Village is the disturbing culmination of years of inaction from the Liberal Government.
 
How many more older Australians will suffer before the Liberal Government finally delivers real action on aged care regulations?
 
The little work the Liberal Government has done to respond to these reports and reviews hasn’t been much better.
 
It is clear the Morrison Liberal Government’s new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner does not have strong enough powers to protect older Australians in aged care.
 
It is critical to the future of the aged care sector that families can have faith and confidence their loved ones will be safe and receive a high level of care in residential facilities.

Over the past six years under the Liberal Government there has been little action from three Prime Ministers and the three previous Aged Care Ministers.
 
Scott Morrison and the Liberal Government must do better to ensure older Australians get the quality aged care services they need.
Health and Aged Care