Sunrise host intervenes in fiery aged care reform debate

Sunrise host Natalie Barr was forced to break up an ugly feud between two guests Wednesday morning as they traded barbs over the aged care reforms.

An ugly war of words broke out on breakfast TV as two political leaders debated where the nation had gone wrong with aged care, forcing Sunrise host Natalie Barr to intervene.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Liberal Senator Jane Hume traded barbs as they attempted to pin the blame on each other for the sector’s failings.

Barr began the interview by pointing out that at least 23 aged care centres had shut down since September last year amid the Albanese government’s strict reforms.

She questioned whether Labor had moved too quickly to enforce its promise of aged care homes having a mandatory nurse on duty 24 hours a day.

Ms O’Neil argued the aged care royal commission’s findings pointed the finger firmly at the former Liberal government for “subjecting elderly Australians to shocking neglect”.

“We saw widespread malnutrition in aged care, we saw elderly Australians drugged because their behaviour couldn’t be properly managed, we saw people falling out of bed in the middle of the night, unable to get care,” she said.

“That all happened under the former government’s watch because they cut funding and they treated the sector disgracefully.”

Sunrise host Natalie Barr had to break up a heated discussion between Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Liberal Senator Jane Hume. Picture: Channel 7/Sunrise

When Labor claimed government, she said its goal was to “look after Australians with the dignity they deserve”, which saw a slew of changes be introduced.

“Part of that is making sure we have a nurse in every nursing home, the most basic thing you think would already be provided in this country a long time ago,” she said.

Ms O’Neil called on the opposition to show “a little bit of contrition” for how it contributed to the issues.

Ms Hume hit back to accuse Ms O’Neil of “propagating the problem” and accused the government of wrongly “expediting the findings” of the inquiry.

She said doing so forced nurses into aged care facilities earlier than recommended which “forces these homes out of business”.

Ms Hume advocated for some homes to be given exemptions if they couldn’t meet the new requirements in time for their introduction.

Ms O’Neil shut down the suggestion that introducing 24/7 nurses a year earlier than recommended was disadvantageous to residents of aged care facilities.

Barr closed the discussion by telling both women the public would have to make up their own minds.

“What we are saying is that we’ve got a bold ambition to properly care for elderly people as quickly as we can, because every year that we wait … every day that we wait, more people are being mistreated,” she said, with Ms Hume attempting to speak over her to speak on the “consequences” of the plan.

Barr had no choice but to intervene in the fiery discourse, telling the women they both had their respective positions heard.

“OK look I think you’ve both had your say and people can make up their own minds because this affects every family in Australia.”