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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Australia's aged care system was in crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic,

(ii) sadly 685 older Australians have died in residential aged care facilities due to COVID-19, and

(iii) the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's special report into COVID-19 stated that the Morrison Government did not have a COVID-19 plan devoted solely to aged care;

(b) recognises the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, that:

(i) the Morrison Government did not prepare for COVID-19 in aged care despite early warning signs,

(ii) there was difficulty for aged care workers to access personal protective equipment,

(iii) there was insufficient infection control training for aged care workers,

(iv) there was no surge workforce strategy document,

(v) the Morrison Government did not have any idea of how many aged care staff were working across multiple sites, and

(vi) reports on the number of infections and the sites were not made public in a timely manner; and

(c) calls on the Morrison Government to take responsibility for fixing their aged care system in crisis and take urgent action now.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government accepted and is acting on all six recommendations from the royal commission's special report on COVID-19, yesterday announcing an additional investment of $132.2 million of measures in response. They include funding for mental and allied health support, funding to support the costs of engaging infection prevention leads in facilities, and further funding towards a serious incident response scheme in 2021. This is in addition to significant investments to support our plan to prevent and combat COVID-19 in aged care. This brings the total COVID-19 investment by the government in aged care to $1.7 billion.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 889 be agreed to.