Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Keneally, McAllister, Ayres, O'Neill and Sheldon, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the challenging circumstances confronted by residents, families and staff as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at Newmarch House;

(b) conveys our deepest sympathies to those families who have lost loved ones during these difficult times;

(c) further notes that:

(i) as at 12 May, 18 residents have sadly passed away since the outbreak,

(ii) Around 70 residents and staff have tested positive to the COVID-19 virus,

(iii) Newmarch House has experienced a series of infection–control failures, and has a second wave of COVID-19 infections at the facility, and

(iv) the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has issued Newmarch House with a number of regulatory actions including a notice requiring agreement;

(d) considers that the residents of Newmarch House, their loved ones and staff deserve answers to why there were a series of infection–control failures, and that all Australians must be assured we have the very best infection control practices in aged care; and

(e) calls on the Morrison Government to work with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to establish a special investigation into what went wrong at Newmarch House.