Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The aged-care royal commission gave people hope that aged care would change for the better. But, despite being singled out for criticism by the royal commission, things seem to have only gotten worse at Tasmania's Southern Cross Care. For instance, constituents have told me terrible stories of neglect, including medications being missed and residents suffering avoidable injuries. The staff are hurting too, with a staggering turnover rate pointing to dreadful culture and morale—made all the worse, no doubt, by Southern Cross's proposal to cut some enrolled nurses and to replace them with lower-paid staff. Moreover, the problems extend to Southern Cross's lifestyle villages, with residents at Saint Canice outraged after discovering their fees will be hiked by more than 36 per cent.

I've made numerous attempts to meet Southern Cross's CEO, Robyn Boyd, but all have been ignored, which is entirely consistent with feedback from constituents that there's a disturbing pattern of complaints being dismissed outright and with the allegation from the ANMF that the CEO has 'zero interest' in the concerns of staff and residents' families. No wonder more than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on the CEO and the board to resign. I urge the federal government to intervene and to ensure Southern Cross starts treating staff and residents with the care and respect they deserve. Anything less would be too little, too late.