6 years ago
AGED CARE MINISTER’S HANDS-OFF APPROACH
JULIE COLLINS MP
The Minister for Aged Care must end his hands-off approach to the care of older Australians and take some responsibility for reports of neglect and abuse that have occurred under his watch.
When confronted with evidence of appalling neglect and abuse in care on Four Corners last night, the Minister refused to take any responsibility and could only say that an agency would deal with it.
“Well, when I have that reach my desk, or if it's been referred to the Quality Agency, the Quality Agency will deal with it.”
- KEN WYATT, FOUR CORNERS, 24 SEPTEMBER 2018
Why won’t the Minister take responsibility for the critical failings that have been identified in Australia’s aged care system?
A hands-off approach will not help older Australians get the high quality care we rightly expect they should receive.
Australians are appalled by the shocking stories we’ve seen and the crisis that exists in our nation’s aged care system, particularly the standard of care being delivered in some residential aged care facilities.
It is clear the current regulatory framework that should be protecting older Australians in care is not working.
The current reporting of complaints in Australia’s residential aged care facilities is overly complex and accessing information about specific complaints and accreditation failures is also difficult.
Just last week Labor reiterated our concerns that the Government’s new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner will not have strong enough powers to protect consumers.
The Government’s legislative response was a missed opportunity to give the new Commission stronger powers given the level of public concern and we still don’t know when this will pass the Parliament.
The response also comes too late – the report that recommended the new Commission was released almost a year ago.
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.
Scott Morrison and the Liberals must do better to ensure older Australians get the quality aged care services they need.
The Royal Commission cannot be an excuse to delay action and fail to fix the things we already know are broken.