Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Is the minister aware that the latest information from his department indicates that Queensland has 86 operational aged care beds for every 1,000 people aged 70 years and over? Can the minister confirm that this is over 600 beds below the government’s own target of 88 residential aged care beds for every 1,000 people aged 70 years and over? Aren’t over 600 frail elderly Queenslanders being denied the aged care they need because his government cannot meet its own target on operational aged care beds? Given the minister has been so keen to stand up for the health needs of Queenslanders, why hasn’t he ensured that they actually have the aged care beds they need?