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

My question is to Senator Santoro. Does the minister recall saying last week that he would conduct an investigation into the allegations of abuse at the George Vowell centre ‘during the next few days’, and saying, ‘I intend to be very open about this whole process’? Has the minister’s investigation examined why no action was taken after relatives wrote to the department, complaining about neglect at this facility in May 2005, other than to write back and request that the complaint be made formal? Under the Aged Care Act, isn’t it possible to investigate anonymous or informal complaints or refer them to the standards agency? Why wasn’t this done, given the serious nature of the issues raised in the complaint? Given the minister has stated that the failure to follow up this complaint was either a failure or deficient attention, will he now be very open as to why it occurred?