Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
2:55 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Did Labor make an election promise to older Australians that every aged-care home would have a registered nurse on site 24-hours a day, seven days a week by 1 July 2023?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Ruston for her question. There's a certain irony—that's the word I would use—in the coalition raising the issue of aged care when we saw such tragedy and—
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
Remember that word 'neglect'?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
that's the word—neglect by the former government in this area. The Albanese government intends to turn things around in the aged-care sector. Unfortunately, we can't wave a wand and solve all of the problems we inherited from the former government, but we're working on it. Of course, the first thing we're doing is putting nurses back into nursing homes. We're putting dignity and respect back in the centre of aged care—something that was not done by the previous government.
Residential aged-care homes will be required to have a registered nurse on site and on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week from 1 July 2023 in line with the government's election commitment. It's in this way that neglected older Australians will get the respect that they didn't get, that they failed to get, under the previous government. Of course, the promise I've just referred to there was a recommendation of— (Time expired)
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
2:57 pm
Noting that this was a key election commitment—which you just have reaffirmed, Minister—yesterday the Minister for Aged Care conceded that the government-mandated requirements for nursing cannot be delivered. Is this a broken promise?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:58 pm
Again I thank Senator Ruston for her question. Again I'm surprised that this is an area in which the opposition are asking questions, given the lack of action and the lack of respect for the aged-care sector in the former government. We committed to implementing a new 24/7 nursing standard in residential aged care in response to the aged-care royal commission.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
On relevance, Madam President. I actually asked the minister about a comment that was made by the minister yesterday. In reflecting on his answer to my primary question, I just wonder whether the minister would like to correct that fact that he appears to have misled the chamber.
Sue Lines President
You've raised a point of order. The minister was being relevant to the first part of your question. I remind him of the second part—thank you, Minister Farrell—which was in relation to comments that the aged-care minister made yesterday.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I can understand why the opposition is embarrassed that this government is taking action with respect to restoring some dignity—
Sue Lines President
Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham.
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
President, in your previous ruling, in response to Senator Ruston's point of order, you indicated the minister had been relevant to the first part of her question but directed him to the second part of her question. Instead, Senator Farrell has got to his feet and simply begun reflecting upon things that are completely irrelevant to the second part of Senator Ruston's question, which went to statements made by the Minister for Aged Care yesterday. I ask you to draw the minister not just to Senator Ruston's question but to comply with your ruling, President.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I'll remind Senator Farrell of the second part of the question, on which I directed him.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
This is a very simple—
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Minister. The time for answering has expired. Senator Ruston, a second supplementary?
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
3:00 pm
Minister, hoping that you understand the workforce challenges that are particularly acute in rural, regional and remote Australia, will you guarantee that no more aged-care facilities will close as a result of the actions of your government?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
3:01 pm
I thank Senator Ruston for the question. We're putting dignity and respect back into the centre of the aged-care system in Australia. As I said in response to your first question, we're putting nurses back into nursing homes. We want the neglect of the previous government to end and—
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
Again, a point of order on relevance: my question was very specific about a guarantee that the actions of the government—
Sue Lines President
Senator Polley! Just a moment, Senator Ruston. Order on my right!
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
As I said, on relevance, my question was very specific in relation to a guarantee by the government that no nursing homes would close down as a result of the actions of this government. I don't believe the minister has gone anywhere near the question.
Sue Lines President
You also talked about workforce challenges, and the minister is being relevant to the question. Minister Farrell, please continue.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
False and misleading claims that aged-care homes will be forced to close are irresponsible and not based on any fact. They cause unnecessary alarm, and I'm disappointed in you, Senator Ruston. They cause unnecessary panic, stress and alarm.
Sue Lines President
Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
President, I'd just ask you if you might ask the minister if he reflects on the accuracy of his answers.
Sue Lines President
That's not a point of order, Senator Ruston. Please continue, Senator Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I am happy to reflect on the accuracy of my answers, and I think they are accurate— (Time expired)
Madam President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.
Sue Lines President
Senator Farrell, is leave granted to table the speech that Senator Birmingham earlier sought to table?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Yes—that very fine speech.