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Llew O’Brien slams government as Tiaro aged care closes

The township of Tiaro is about to lose its only aged care centre, forcing its residents to the nearby larger centre of Maryborough and out of their small local community. Wide Bay LNP MP Llew O’Brien has slammed the decision that made this happen.

Wide Bay MP Llew O'Brien speaks out on closure of Tiaro's Petrie Gardens.
Wide Bay MP Llew O'Brien speaks out on closure of Tiaro's Petrie Gardens.

Tiaro’s Petrie Gardens has consistently ranked as one of the Fraser Coast’s top aged care providers, including being awarded a perfect score for the quality of the food given to residents.

But on August 1, 2023, the aged care residence will be forced to close its doors because of new regulations introduced as a result of the Royal Commission into the aged care sector.

New, around-the-clock nursing requirements came into effect on July 1, 2023, and minimum care minutes will be introduced from October 1 as part of the new national legislation.

On Friday, July 14, federal LNP MP for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien, slammed the government for bringing the measures in a year earlier than recommended, saying that with nationwide staffing shortages, the new regulations had led to the closure of the Tiaro facility and 27 others across the nation.

He said it was regional areas that were most likely to be impacted by the changes.

The low care facility at Tiaro has been in operation since 1995.

“This is what happens when the heavy hand of government comes in with excessive regulation without ensuring there’s a workforce available to ensure compliance,” Mr O’Brien said.

“So even with an offer of some support from government, it’s of no help when there’s no RNs (registered nurses) available to fill the positions.”

Tiaro's Petrie Gardens will close its doors in August 2023.
Tiaro's Petrie Gardens will close its doors in August 2023.

Opposition spokesperson for aged care Senator Anne Ruston said that residents in communities like Petrie Gardens deserved the right to age in their community.

“However, expedited requirements from this Labor Government are tragically seeing older Australians forced to leave their communities and aged care homes forced to close as they cannot fulfil legal obligations imposed on them,” she said.

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“It is shocking that the Minister Aged Care has not provided any support to providers like Churches of Christ in Tiaro who are doing their best to provide high quality care for older Australians.”

Internal Health Department findings from 2022 demonstrate that the Labor government’s aged care reforms would exacerbate current workforce shortages and create a shortfall of almost 40,000 nurses and care workers by 2024-25.

“What’s worse is the government’s changes to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold from $53,900 to $70,000, which makes it more difficult for employers to take on overseas trained staff by making their wages unaffordable, at a time when the government is increasing overseas migration to Australia by 1.5 million people,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It is important that older Australians get the care they need, but the Labor government has pushed forward blindly with these reforms, ignoring the repercussions on rural and regional areas already feeling the impact of the aged care workforce shortage.”

The federal government has been contacted for a response.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fraser-coast/community/llew-obrien-slams-government-as-tiaro-aged-care-closes/news-story/8ef28bb456632ed13f4f417e7502340f