Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

That is not what this is. This is a minister, though, who is showing the same contempt for ministerial standards: that is, he is not answering a basic question asked of him in this parliament about a basic figure within his portfolio. It is a basic figure he should know, but it is not basic in terms of the import that it has for older Australians who are waiting for their home care packages, when 16,000 died waiting the previous financial year. All we want to know is how many died in the last financial year waiting for their home care packages. How far will ministerial standards slip under this third-term Liberal-National government? The minister has acknowledged that this is a legitimate question. He said last week:

This is a legitimate question. It's one of the reasons why the government takes the issue of aged care and the growth of aged care home care packages so seriously.

Well, if he takes it so seriously, how can he not know the answer? How can he be talking about increasing home care packages when he doesn't even know how many people are missing out on home care packages—how many people are dying waiting for their home care package?

It would appear that the basic responsibilities of a minister—answering questions from his parliamentary colleagues and being accountable to the Australian people—are a bridge too far for Senator Colbeck. He has shown contempt for the parliament. But more importantly and more significantly, through his administration of the ageing portfolio, which looks after older vulnerable Australians who need our help, seniors who have given their lives to building their families and their communities—in their time of need, when they need a home care package, what do they get from this government? Neglect, lack of information and an insufficient supply of home care packages. That is the utter contempt that Minister Colbeck is showing to older Australians and to this parliament.