Aged Care Royal Commission hands down final report

There were fireworks when Prime Minister Scott Morrison fronted the media this afternoon to respond to a ‘harrowing’ report.

Scott Morrison has been grilled over the release of a scathing report about neglect and substandard care in the aged care system.

The final report from royal commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs was released on Monday and made 148 recommendations.

But the documents were tabled barely a few minutes before the prime minister stood up to talk about the government’s response — making it challenging for the fiery press pack present to grill Mr Morrison over the findings.

“There will be plenty of other opportunities,” Mr Morrison said.

“Today is the day for us telling Australia that it is released.”

The prime minister was asked if it was a tactic because the two commissioners were split on a number of fundamental reforms needed to fix the sector.

This includes Ms Briggs proposal of a 1 per cent aged care improvement levy on taxpayers to substantially increase government expenditure.

“No. I don’t understand the question,” Mr Morrison said. “It is a complicated issue.”

In a tense to-and-fro between the PM and reporters, Mr Morrison was asked which of the recommendations would be adopted by government.

“That’s what we’ll consider and include that in our response,” before being asked if it was a problem the blueprint wasn’t so clear cut.

“No. I think it’s a problem that people think this is so simple,” he said.

“There will be difference of views.”

Scott Morrison has defended the timing around the release of the royal commission report.

The federal government will immediately invest more than $450m into the aged care system in response to the royal commission report.

“The extent of substandard care in the current aged care system is unacceptable, deeply concerning, and has been known for many years,” Mr Pagone said.

At least one in three people accessing residential aged care and home care services have experienced substandard care, Ms Briggs concluded.

Assaults could be as high as almost one in five in residential care, where almost half have concerns about staff, and there was “a clear overuse” of physical and chemical restraints.

Studies have also revealed that two in three nursing home residents were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, while the commission heard “horrific accounts” of substandard skincare.

After years of critical reviews, the report states it took the Oakden catastrophe in South Australia — where whistleblower Barb Spriggs raised the alarm over the mistreatment of her husband Bob at the state-run facility — to expose again the cracks in the aged care system.

“The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us all again of the crisis in aged care in this country and of the failure of our leaders to take responsibility for what happens in this system,” the report states.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who called the royal commission, unveiled a $452.2 million package as an initial step to the government’s response to the report.

“I warned the country we should brace for impact and be prepared for what would follow and it has been a harrowing process,” he told reporters at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

“The royal commission has now set out a very important road map, which I think will establish generational change in this country when it comes to aged care.

“It’s the inquiry we needed to have.”

Governor General David Hurley received the final report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety from Commissioner Lynelle Briggs (left) on Friday. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Mr Morrison said the response to the royal commission report would test the government, including the May federal budget.

But he said generational change was needed to put the individual and needs-based care at the centre of the aged care system.

“Life is to be lived every single second, every single minute. It is precious,” Mr Morrison said.

“The fact that Australians feel they are waiting out their life, it’s impossible to put into words how you respond to that.

“So generational change is needed.”

The funding package will help address five key areas: home care, residential aged care quality and safety, residential aged care services and sustainability, workforce, and governance.

This includes an audit of 500 home-care facilities a year, make fee structures more transparent and implement a new quality control system.

At least 1500 additional nursing homes will be audited per year and increase protections against chemical and physical restraint.

A new senior leader who will deal with the use of restraints will also be appointed to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said the viability supplement for providers would also be extended to June 30, while the government prepares the budget, as recommended by the commissioners.

“We will make available immediately for 18,000 places to supplement those which have already been brought in for new home care and residential care workers to be trained,” Mr Hunt said.

“If we can lift those numbers, we lift the places that we offer.”

Mr Hunt said a new aged care act would be established, as well as a governance training program to support 3700 senior leaders across the country.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was established in October 2018 to inquire into the quality and safety of aged care in Australia.

It was due to hand down its findings in November 2020. However, this was extended to last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor General David Hurley received the final report on Friday.

The government will release its full response to the report by May 31.