The fragility of Australia's aged care services is being starkly exposed. COVID-19 has made its deadly presence felt and, for reasons including staff working at multiple sites and poor infection control in the worst-hit facilities, the mounting toll of nursing home residents has shocked and saddened the nation.

At a Senate committee hearing on Friday, Labor Party senator Katy Gallagher all but accused Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck of having responsibility for those deaths, as if he, like King Canute, could have stopped the tide of community transmission at nursing home doors.