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

I would like to add to the response that I provided to Senator Webber’s question in relation to Greenmount Gardens in Western Australia. The agency found that there was no serious risk to residents. Issues of noncompliance have been put on the timetable by the accreditation agency for improvement by the deadline of 12 January. The home has agreed to measures to urgently address issues of non-compliance raised by the state. I can inform Senator Webber and the Senate that another visit is scheduled on 12 January, at which time the agency and the department will determine whether the home has addressed the areas of noncompliance. I have been informed that if progress is not satisfactory at that time the department will then consider going down the path of sanctions.

This is the process that is also working well in relation to Elizabeth House, the other example that was raised by Senator Webber. The timetable for improvement in that case does not expire until 15 December, but I can inform Senator Webber and the Senate that already the home has been assessed as complying with 43 of the 44 outcomes. I wish to repeat that: the home has been assessed as complying with 43 of the 44 outcomes. So I can confidently say that the process is working to bring the home back into compliance without the heavy-handed, punitive measures advocated by the Labor Party which consequently would impact heavily on both the residents and the staff of the home.