Inquiries into Oakden to be held under spotlight of public scrutiny with aggrieved and angry to share their tales

OAKDEN is a scandal that shows no signs of going away. Chief Psychiatrist Aaron Groves’ report raised even more questions still to be answered and which will be picked over by three inquiries in an election year.

Premier Jay Weatherill returned from leave this week to offer a defence of his minister. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

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OAKDEN is a scandal that shows no signs of going away. Chief Psychiatrist Aaron Groves’ report, which uncovered last-century conditions at the site, raised even more questions still to be answered and which will be picked over by three inquiries in an election year.

It’s apparent now that Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister Leesa Vlahos won’t be moved. Premier Jay Weatherill returned from leave this week to offer a defence of his minister, seeing nothing in her delays in reading the report or responding to a two-year-old warning of a “high risk of severe injury or death at the facility”.

He went to the playbook that has worked with success in scandals past, deferring blame for the failure down the line to public servants.

The script seemed to work after the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission. That study uncovered a horrifying litany of systemic failures. They were headlined, but not limited to, a hopeless process that resulted in monster paedophile Shannon McCoole being employed by the Government and able to commit unspeakable crimes.

While the royal commission was running, ministers shut down questions over how things could go so wrong with the defence that they wouldn’t comment about an ongoing inquiry. When it was finally released, an apology was made and a promise of reform given. The issue fell away.

It’s apparent now that Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister Leesa Vlahos won’t be moved. Picture: TRICIA WATKINSON

The Gillman fiasco played out in a similar way. While the issue was being probed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, it became illegal to discuss what was being turned over. Some illuminating context remains suppressed, with the threat of prison for its disclosure.

When the final report found maladministration by former Renewal SA chief Fred Hansen, Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis apologised for “conversational swearing” as Mr Weatherill insisted he would still do the same deal any day of the week. Before long, Gillman was gone from the headlines.

As a political issue, Oakden threatens to create much more damage for the Government.

Not only does aged care touch many more lives than land deals or the child protection system, but the inquiries into Oakden are going to be held under the spotlight of high public scrutiny.

The Federal Government has an inquiry under way into how its own audits failed to uncover the disaster at Oakden. The path that probe takes is completely out of the State Government’s control. Canberra also has political incentive to spin its results darkly for Mr Weatherill.

State Parliament already had plans to conduct an inquiry into the general problem of elder abuse, an investigation which will now be swamped with testimony and tales about Oakden.

While inherently political in nature, these kinds of inquiries provide a platform for the aggrieved and angry to air their personal stories of neglect and cover-up on an almost weekly basis.

In the lead-up to the last state election, a separate committee held an inquiry into the Debelle inquiry, which resulted from the lack of action over sex abuse at an Adelaide school.

While the issue itself had negligible effect at the ballot box, the constant drip flow of information about who knew what stifled Labor’s ability to pump out positive messages and fight the campaign on its preferred terms.

As a political issue, Oakden threatens to create much more damage for the Government. Picture: MARK BRAKE

But perhaps the most savage inquisition could come from Coroner Mark Johns.

Since Dr Groves’ report became public a fortnight ago, Mr Johns has reopened a decade-old case of a death that occurred at Oakden and had a steady flow of mail requesting other inquests.

Several cases include fears that over-medication hastened deaths.

Mr Johns has a reputation as one of the most fearless public watchdogs in the state. Several of his office’s recent inquests have resulted in withering criticisms of State Government agencies and its policies.

Unlike others in similar office, he’s not one to pull punches while hunting out the ugliest truths.

There is a stand-off between his office and the Cabinet over funding, which seems very likely to resolve in Mr Johns’ favour. Mr Weatherill has committed to Oakden families that funding will be released to allow full coronial reviews.

It is understood an allocation will be made in the State Budget, but its size is subject to audits from the Treasury and justice departments.

Evidence to the Coroner’s Court is given with infinitely more transparency that any received by an SA royal commission or internal government inquiry. Oakden inquiries held there will be covered extremely closely by the press, and any negative findings will be above challenge.

It’s possible these investigations will turn over new information which becomes a so-called “smoking gun” needed to bring down a minister. At the very least, they will be regular reminders for the public over the next 10 months of the total systemic failure and disgrace that is Oakden.

Mr Weatherill once said good governments have nothing to hide. We’ve got much more to learn.