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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-17 Daily Xml
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Kindred Living Aged Care

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, as Minister for Ageing, a question about the Kindred Living aged-care facility at Whyalla.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last week, I attended the trouble-plagued facility, with the husband and son of a severely demented resident who lives there, to witness firsthand the severe infection of Norwegian scabies that had ravaged her body. Her husband and other residents and staff caring for dementia residents in cottage 3 have also been affected. The Nine Network's A Current Affair program travelled to Whyalla and aired its story last night, which included interviews with two brave whistleblowers, who were first to expose the neglect at this facility.

Under the spotlight of a royal commission that was ordered to specifically investigate levels of neglect and abuse in our aged-care homes, I found it heartbreaking that this sort of neglect was still occurring. In response to the TV program last night, the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, released a statement revealing that this aged-care facility has been the subject of 11 complaints investigated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission—11. My questions to the minister are:

1. Have you or your office been in contact with Minister Colbeck's office since the airing of the disturbing report last night?

2. Are you concerned at the high number of complaints that have been made against this facility?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for his question and I take the opportunity to commend the Hon. Frank Pangallo and Mr Stewart Johnston for their advocacy, particularly for the improvement of standards in aged care. Certainly, I share the member's concerns in relation to the very troubling report that was aired on A Current Affair last night in relation to Kindred Living, Whyalla.

Indeed, my office has been in contact with Minister Colbeck's office. Both Minister Colbeck and I are committed to ensuring these allegations are urgently and thoroughly investigated and that appropriate action is taken. I understand that an investigation by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is underway. The health, safety and wellbeing of senior Australians is extremely important. We will direct all appropriate and necessary resources to assist.

While the federal government is responsible for the oversight of aged-care services, particularly through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Marshall Liberal government has always acted swiftly to protect vulnerable members of our community, including older South Australians. That's why in the wake of the Oakden disgrace, we passed legislation to safeguard the rights of adults vulnerable to abuse and neglect and to establish the Adult Safeguarding Unit (ASU). That's why in the wake of the tragic death of Ann Marie Smith, the Marshall government brought forward the planned expansion of the ASU to include adults living with disability who may be vulnerable to abuse.

This morning, in response to the A Current Affair segment, the Adult Safeguarding Unit has been in contact with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to discuss what steps are being taken in response to this matter and to make the commission aware of SA Health's willingness to assist, particularly in relation to the management of the suspected outbreak of scabies.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo, a supplementary.

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