THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT MUST RESPOND TO GROWING PILE OF AGED CARE REPORTS AND REVIEWS

Labor welcomes the launch of the Older Persons Advocacy Network but the Turnbull Government must now turn its attention to the growing number of reviews and reports into elder abuse and aged care.

 

Advocacy services are important, but if the Government fails to act on growing concerns relating to elder abuse and issues in aged care, vulnerable older Australians will continue to be worse off.

 

The Turnbull Government is still yet to respond to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report into elder abuse – released in June.

 

With 43 recommendations the significant body of work cannot be ignored.

 

Labor Leader Bill Shorten wrote to Turnbull in February seeking his assurance that the Government will respond to the recommendations of this report as a matter of priority.

 

Turnbull has yet to substantially respond to the Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes, accepting only one recommendation which Labor had already proposed six months ago.

 

The report made clear that the regulation of aged care is letting too many older Australians down.

 

Turnbull has also failed to respond to the Aged Care Legislated Review, led by David Tune, only ruling out two of the 38 recommendations.

 

Older Australians and their families deserve better than this.

 

Labor again calls on Turnbull to take these reports seriously, and act quickly in the interests of all older Australians. 

 

In the context of an ageing population in Australia, a failure to tackle elder abuse and issues in aged care will have a devastating impact on the future of our country.

The mistreatment of older Australians is simply not acceptable and Labor stands ready to work with governments at all levels to fix this issue.