Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I want to assure the Senate and anybody listening to the question and the answer that residents within Australia’s aged-care facilities are living in safety and tranquillity compared with the situation when the Labor Party was in power. What I can say is that the $3,500 per resident which was in fact received by aged-care providers was, in the overwhelming majority of cases, spent very wisely to improve safety standards and conditions within aged-care facilities. I want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate those providers who topped up the money provided to aged-care providers within the aged-care industry. It is not just the government that is making a contribution to the safety of aged-care residents; it is also the many excellent providers who believe in best practice, and we intend to continue to encourage and assist them.