Opposition says Premier Jay Weatherill’s silence over Oakden nursing home scandal shows he doesn’t care
NEW evidence reveals embattled Mental Health Minister Leesa Vlahos ignored warnings of abuse at Oakden and Premier Jay Weatherill’s silence on the scandal shows he “doesn’t care”, the Opposition claims.
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NEW evidence reveals embattled Mental Health Minister Leesa Vlahos ignored warnings of abuse at Oakden and Premier Jay Weatherill’s silence on the scandal shows he “doesn’t care”, the Opposition claims.
Ms Vlahos on Thursday came under further pressure to resign after the release of a damning letter sent to the State Government by Federal Labor MP Tony Zappia in 2014.
The letter said a constituent, now known to be whistleblower Lorraine Baff, believed serious understaffing at the state-run site raised “a high risk of a severe injury or death at the facility”.
The letter was addressed to Health Minister Jack Snelling, but Ms Vlahos responded on his behalf and dismissed the warning.
A review by Chief Psychiatrist Aaron Groves, triggered two years later, uncovered serious and long-running claims of abuse, over-medication and understaffing at Oakden.
Ms Baff on Thursday said she attempted to contact Mr Snelling in December 2014 with specific concerns about the care given to husband Jim at Oakden, but had no response.
Mr Weatherill has been on leave since Dr Groves’ report was released last week and it’s not known if he has read the document or had any contact with Ms Vlahos.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said there was now overwhelming evidence she knew about problems on the site and must now resign.
This includes the letter exchange and Ms Vlahos’ delaying of a visit to the Oakden facility despite pleas from an expert psychiatrist.
He said Mr Weatherill should have read the report two weeks ago when it was completed.
“He (Mr Weatherill) had every opportunity to read the report,” Mr Marshall said.
“He was sitting less than 10m away from her (Ms Vlahos) in Parliament when she had it in her grasp. He failed to even ask her what the contents were.
“We’ve now had 18 days since the Government received the report, and Jay Weatherill hasn’t read it.
“He’s already failed the young in this state with his hopeless mismanagement of SA’s child protection system. Now it’s happening again, this time with our elderly vulnerable citizens.”
Mr Marshall said sacking Ms Vlahos “would send a very strong message to everyone in Jay Weatherill’s team that this sort of hopeless incompetence won’t be tolerated.”
Acting Premier Kyam Maher would not say if he had spoken to Mr Weatherill about the report. “Minister Vlahos is doing a good job addressing what is a very difficult situation,” he said.
“The report ... was very critical of a culture of secrecy of leadership and staff at Oakden.
“Minister Vlahos has moved immediately to address those concerns.”
Mr Weatherill returns to work over the weekend, and will head to the remote APY Lands for a round of community Cabinet meetings.
Labor insiders say Ms Vlahos has his support.
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