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. Is the minister aware that the current owners of six residential aged care facilities in Queensland and Victoria were jailed for defrauding the Commonwealth of aged care subsidies in 1999? On their conviction, didn’t they simply transfer the directorship of their company—the approved provider—to their daughters while maintaining ownership of the company even during their jail term? Haven’t they subsequently returned to participate in the operation of these facilities, which received a total of $16 million from the government in aged care subsidies in 2004-05 alone? Can the minister now confirm that this same approved provider is now again under investigation by the department for fraud? Can the minister explain to taxpayers why the government allowed convicted fraudsters to own aged care facilities and receive millions of dollars in aged care subsidies?