Earle Haven: MP Angie Bell misses meeting at embattled nursing home

A Gold Coast MP claims she was not invited to an emergency meeting with elderly residents caught up in the shocking closure of Earle Haven nursing home in her electorate — despite other politicians attending.

MONCRIEFF MP Angie Bell missed a crisis meeting with elderly residents caught up in the shock closure of the Earle Haven nursing home yesterday for a press conference with the Deputy Prime Minister.

Ms Bell said she was not invited to the “residents-only” meeting, which was attended by politicians including Labor Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon.

The beleaguered Nerang nursing home is in Ms Bell’s electorate.

Instead, Ms Bell attented a media event at Reedy Creek alongside Michael McCormack about the widening of the M1.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Member for Moncrieff Angie Bell at Reedy Creek for the press conference on upgrading the M1 at 9.47am. Picture: Luke Mortimer

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“I believe there’s a meeting this morning at 10am, which I couldn’t be at because I’m clearly here with the Deputy Prime Minister and Karen Andrews, the member for McPherson,” she said.

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Ms Bell said she would be meeting with aged care residents on Friday and “their questions will be responded to in that meeting”.

She said the Federal Government’s investigation was continuing and would “look into any criminal activity that may have occurred at Earle Haven”.

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Residents and family from Earle Haven retirement village pack into the auditorium for a meeting about abrupt closure of the nursing home wing, which.

Ms Bell did not have an update on an elderly woman who was badly injured in the sudden exodus from the nursing home. She did say all residents had been “looked after and placed in temporary care”.

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“And now we’ll go about the task of putting them in further care,” she said.

Asked about the investigation and its independence, on the back of an interview by Ms Scanlon, Ms Bell denounced “political point scoring with the people of Earle Haven”.

She was asked when a flagged report would be publicised and replied bluntly: “When we get the report.”

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Member for McPherson Karen Andrews, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Member for Moncrieff Angie Bell spoke about upgrading the M1. Pictured at 10.11am. Picture: Luke Mortimer

MASS EXODUS FROM COAST’S EARLE HAVEN NURSING HOME

At the M1 media event, it was revealed works to widen the M1 to six lanes from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes would finish in the next 12 months and create about 300 jobs.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union said it was still seeking answers from the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck over Earle Haven nurse wages.

The union wrote to Mr Colbeck on Friday urging him to arrange hardship pay to help the 90 staff who lost their jobs.

“Members are owed money and need money,” union secretary Beth Mohle said. “We contacted the office again Tuesday and they said they are working on a response, but this is urgent. We need an urgent response from the minister, it has now been four days and this is an extraordinary circumstance.”