3 years ago
SCOTT MORRISON CANNOT WAIT TO ACT ON AGED CARE DISASTER
Julie Collins MP
Scott Morrison must act on yesterday’s recommendations of the Royal Commission immediately to keep older Australians in aged care safe from COVID-19.
After the closing address from Counsel Assisting, Commissioner Tony Pagone QC urged the Federal Government to create an aged care-specific national coordinating body. Labor urges the Government to act on this as a matter of urgency.
Reports this morning indicate the Government will ‘discuss’ aged care preparedness at National Cabinet next week – but why isn’t action being taken now?
Yesterday Commissioner Pagone made it clear – the time for action is now.
“As we often heard, the virus doesn’t wait and nor should the measures that need to be implemented to deal with the virus wait either.”
COMMISSIONER PAGONE, AGED CARE ROYAL COMMISSION, 13 AUGUST 2020
Labor wrote to the Prime Minister three weeks ago calling for him to roll out a national plan to better prepare aged care for COVID-19.
Again last week Labor wrote to the Minister for Aged Care calling for immediate action to implement a national approach including better training in using PPE and infection control.
The Royal Commission was clear: the Morrison Government needs to act now and take a national approach to this tragic situation.
Aged care is a federal responsibility. Scott Morrison should not hide behind National Cabinet or use it as an excuse to delay action.
What will it take for Scott Morrison to take responsibility and take action?
The public needs to know that its Government has learnt from previous outbreaks and everything possible is now being done.
Why was the Morrison Government not better prepared for outbreaks that would impact our nation’s most vulnerable?
The Morrison Government must do better for our most vulnerable older Australians.