Labor calls for Community Visitor Scheme for people with disabilities to be rebooted, after shocking death of Ann Marie Smith
Ann Marie Smith died in shocking circumstances. The Opposition is now calling to reboot a scheme that checked in on the vulnerable – the state minister says there’s a legal problem.
SA News
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Labor is pushing to reboot a state scheme that checked on South Australians with disabilities, despite State Government legal challenges that the services are now federally-run.
The shocking death of SA woman Ann Marie Smith is now the subject of police and coronial investigations, as well as an inquiry by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Ms Smith was being cared for under the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance scheme, but died two months ago in conditions police say were “disgusting and degrading”.
Claims include that she was left in a cane chair for a year, which also became her toilet.
Ms Smith, who had cerebral palsy, suffered septic shock and multi-organ failure.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas will take legislation to State Parliament to reboot elements of the SA Community Visitor Scheme, which were wound back after 2018.
At that time, much of the responsibility for disabled care moved to the federal level with the advent of the NDIS.
Former principle community visitor Maurice Corcoran left the post last year.
In his final annual report to Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink, Mr Corcoran wrote of “a great deal of concern and disappointment about the reduction” of the scheme.
“There was overwhelming support across the sector for the CVS to continue, especially given that all other states who had visitor schemes found a way to enable them,” he wrote.
Mr Malinauskas said Labor’s plan would give community visitors the ability to inspect NDIS services and facilities, and even the private residences of disabled people if needed.
“We were all shocked and appalled by the horrific death of Ann Marie Smith,” he said.
“What made this situation so much worse was that it was preventable.
“Ann Marie Smith was failed by a system which did not have adequate checks and balances in place.
“We cannot allow that to happen again.”
Ms Lensink said Crown Law advice sighted the Opposition found Constitutional issues with having the state community visitor scheme check on the NDIS.
“Ann Marie Smith’s recent tragic death has highlighted significant gaps in the NDIS system and we are determined to ensure all the proper safeguards are in place to prevent such an event happening again,” Ms Lensink said.
“We’ve asked the new, independent taskforce ... how the current CVS scheme can be working alongside the NDIS given the legal limitations.
“We haven’t received a copy of Labor’s proposed legislation and encourage them to share it with the taskforce so we can all work together to get the best outcomes for SA.”
Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said that legal advice was now two years old, and both independent advice and federal authorities said the plan could work.
“There has to be a sense of urgency about this,” Ms Cook said.
“It’s time to get out from behind this shield and make real changes.”
Federal NDIS Minister Stuart Robert has said Ms Smith was being checked on by authorities, but drawn heavy criticism for refusing to say how many times that had occurred.