Premier Steven Marshall suggests state audits after ‘sickening’ death of Ann Marie Smith

Disability services could be subjected to more stringent oversights in the wake of the death of an Adelaide woman who died in squalid conditions.

Ann Marie Smith, 54, who died from serious illnesses developed while in full-time care. A manslaughter investigation has now been launched.

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State-based audits and more oversight of disability services could be introduced in the wake of the “sickening” story of an Adelaide woman who died in squalid conditions, the Premier has said.

Major Crime detectives are conducting a homicide inquiry into the death of Ann Marie Smith, 54, who had cerebral palsy and was on a NDIS-funded support plan.

Police are investigating “all people who had a role in her care” at her eastern-suburbs home while a significant focus is on her financial affairs.

Federal Opposition disability spokesman Bill Shorten has called for an indepdent inquiry. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

Premier Steven Marshall on Saturday said he would investigate “whether or not we have to have increased auditing of the systems that are in place”.

“I’m very keen to find out the exact circumstances that allow this to occur,” he said, adding he was “sickened” by the “absolutely shocking story”.

“It really raises the question as to whether or not we need to be also having some oversight.

“We can’t allow this type of horrific situation to occur in future.” Asked if audits would be state-based, he replied: “Well, we need to look at that”.

As neighbours told of their shock, federal NDIS Minister Stuart Robert defended the investigative process amid calls from opposition spokesman Bill Shorten for an independent inquiry.

Mr Robert told the Sunday Mail that Ms Smith’s tragic death was in the hands of the appropriate NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and SA Police.

He said further action was being taken requiring the care provider to “take immediate steps to protect the safety of other people with a disability that they support”.

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But Mr Shorten said: “She deserves an independent review into how the system failed her. It is not good enough for Stuart Robert to just blithely handball this to the Quality and Safeguards Commission.”

Ms Smith died last month in the Royal Adelaide Hospital of profound septic shock, multiple organ failure from severe pressure sores and malnutrition.

She was living in “disgusting and degrading circumstances” at her Bradman Court, Kensington Park, home and unable to move from her loungeroom chair for more than a year.

State Labor’s Nat Cook said government-funded community visits should be reinstated to include private homes.

But Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said on Saturday night community visits “never had the role of visiting people in their own private homes”.