Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese met with older residents in Grovedale today following the release of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety last week.
Mr Albanese visited Sandstone and Co Cafe alongside Corangamite MP Libby Coker and opposition spokesperson for aged care services Clare O’Neil to foreshadow a new plan for the sector.
“We need to look at a comprehensive plan that values and respects older Australians,” he said.
“One that keeps older Australians in their home for as long as possible.
“To do that we need to address the fact that last year 11,000 Australians who had home care packages approved died waiting to actually get those home care packages delivered to them.
“If people enter into aged care residences, they have to be properly looked after.”
Mr Albanese cited harrowing findings in the commission’s report, drawn from more than 10,000 written submissions, 6800 telephone submissions, 641 witnesses and dozens of research papers over 28 months.
Australian studies have identified a prevalence of malnutrition in residential care ranging from 22 to 50 per cent, according to the report.
The report also found up to 18 per cent of aged care residents said they had experienced either physical or sexual abuse.
Mr Albanese also took aim at the government’s national COVID-19 vaccination program, which is widely reported to be behind schedule.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in January he “anticipated optimistically” that 80,000 Australians would be vaccinated every week at the beginning of the rollout, before the effort was “scaled up”.
But in the first fortnight of the program only 71,867 Australians were immunised, including 20,814 residents across 241 aged care facilities.
Mr Albanese also discussed JobKeeper, international borders and recent allegations of rape by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins last month, which have rocked federal parliament.
