Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I've met at least weekly—sometimes more—with the sector through the pandemic and continue to do so to address any matter that they may raise. I've met with families in groups large and small via videoconference and on an individual basis. I have been there and we have been there every step of the way every day. We have not stopped planning, adapting and implementing.

I sat a couple of weeks ago with a friend I hadn't seen for 30 years. She came to talk to me about the death of her mother four years ago and her concerns about the loss of dignity her mum felt in a residential aged-care facility. I sat with her while she cried, because she hadn't been able to address that issue for four years. She came into my office. We sat, we talked and we worked our way through what could be done and what will be done, and I tried to help her with her pain. It's those sorts of stories and those that we heard from the royal commission that drive me and that drive the government to improve the residential aged-care sector in this country.

For us, this has never been about politics. The operation of the national cabinet demonstrates that. Labor can have their 'gotcha' moments. They can ridicule and show disrespect to our most senior medical officials on the use of language at COVID meetings.

Senator Watt interjecting—