The final submission from the Counsel Assisting the Aged Care Royal Commission has confirmed that Morrison Government mismanagement has transformed Australia’s aged care system into a national shame.
Federal member for Blair Shayne Neumann MP the Royal Commission’s finding that one in five nursing home residents was receiving substandard care simply is not good enough.
“The Morrison Government refuses to take responsibility for the deaths of more than 680 older Australians in residential aged care homes from COVID-19 this year,” Mr Neumann said.
“At the same time Mr Rozen was making his submission, Liberal Senators used this week’s Senate Estimates hearings to seek to undermine the Royal Commission’s credibility by attacking a staffer’s personal tweets.
“Those same Liberals on the committee also voted to prevent Labor Senators from asking officials about Coronavirus deaths, rejecting the issue as “not relevant’’.
“Let me be clear, aged care is a Federal Government responsibility.
“But Mr Morrison and Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck have failed in their duty protect older Australians.”
When the Royal Commission previously highlighted the Morrison Government’s failure to plan for COVID-19 in aged care, Mr Morrison rejected its evidence.
He failed to properly respond to the Royal Commission’s interim report which included calls for urgent action on the home care waiting list.
There were more than 100,000 older Australians waiting list home care when Scott Morrison called the Royal Commission and there are still more than 100,000 waiting today.
“This Budget features eye-watering levels of debt, yet no significant new funding for residential aged care.
“Each day, we hear more stories of serious neglect in our aged care facilities – mostly a result of significant shortages in appropriately skilled staff.
“And each day, the Morrison Government runs further away, passing the buck to the States and refusing to take responsibility.
“This Royal Commission has made it clear: older Australians deserve immediate action.”
