Head of disability task force calls for immediate closure of company responsible for Annie Smith’s care
The woman hand-picked to lead a task force into disability care in SA says new revelations about the company caring for Annie Smith should trigger its immediate closure.
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Integrity Care – the company responsible for looking after Annie Smith – should be closed immediately, according to a leading disability advocate.
Former MP Kelly Vincent, who was hand-picked by the State Government to lead an inquiry into disability services in South Australia following the horrific death of Ms Smith, said: “Every day it remains open is showing other agencies that they can get away with this.”
Ms Vincent’s plea was prompted by revelations Integrity Care is now subject to a SafeWork SA investigation and submitted Working with Vulnerable People applications for 33 of its workers 10 days after Ms Smith’s death.
“If this isn’t what it takes to get deregistered, the what the hell does it take?” Ms Vincent, pictured, said.
“Integrity Care must be shut down immediately and permanently.”
Ms Smith died in Royal Adelaide Hospital on April 6, the day after an ambulance was called to her Kensington Park home.
Evidence indicates the 54-year-old, who died of malnutrition and multiple organ failure caused by blood-poisoning from untreated pressure sores, had spent most of the 12 months leading up to her death in an almost sedentary state.
She was living in putrid conditions in a cane chair soaked in urine and faeces.
Human Services Minster Michelle Lensink said the State Government was co-operating with the Federal Government and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s independent review into the circumstances surrounding Ms Smith’s death.
Federal opposition NDIS spokesman Bill Shorten said “under NDIS Minister Stuart Robert’s reign, the disability watchdog has become a toothless purse poodle”.
Mr Robert said the death of Ms Smith was shocking and the circumstances that led to her death must never be allowed to happen again.
“As is appropriate … Ms Smith’s death is being investigated by the independent bodies established to do just that,” he said.
“These independent bodies include the police, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the South Australian Coroner.”
“The government has already moved to strengthen protections for NDIS participants by expanding the powers of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner to ban unsuitable providers and workers from working with NDIS participants, regardless of whether they are active in the sector or not.”