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

My question is to Senator Santoro, the Minister for Ageing. Can the minister confirm that 31 December 2005 was the deadline for aged care providers to meet upgraded fire safety standards introduced in 1999? Can the minister confirm that, as at 19 January 2006, 36 per cent—53,000 residential aged care beds—failed to meet the deadline and do not yet meet the 1999 standards? Is the minister aware that his predecessor indicated last year that all nursing homes that failed to meet the 1999 standards by the deadline would have their certification reviewed? Is this still the government’s policy, and when will those reviews be carried out? Will non-compliant facilities be sanctioned in any way?