Labor attacks LNP over aged-care donations

Queensland Labor has accused the LNP of being compromised by their acceptance of donations from major aged-care providers.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles in question time yesterday. Picture: AAP

Queensland Labor has accused the Liberal National Party of being compromised by their acceptance of donations from major aged-care providers, despite the ALP receiving more than $285,000 from major industry players across the past decade.

In the state’s parliament ­yesterday, Health Minister Steven Miles repeated his accusation that the LNP was resisting mandatory staff-to-patient ratios for aged care because they had accepted donations from aged-care providers such as The Village Retirement Group and McKenzie Aged Care.

“All up, all it cost to buy the ­silence of those opposite was $42,799. That is all it cost for them to sell out older Queenslanders,” Mr Miles told parliament.

However, since 2009, the Labor Party has declared more than $210,000 in contributions from major aged-care provider Bupa, where a staffer was this month charged with allegedly assaulting an 82-year-old resident in Sydney.

Progressive Business, a ­Victorian organisation that connects corporates with Labor MPs, also declared $75,000 revenue from Bupa, which operates more than 70 care homes with 6700 ­residents.

Labor Holdings, an investment fund established by Queensland Labor in the 1980s, has reported income from Japara Healthcare and Regis Healthcare in recent years.

Mr Miles’s spokeswoman ­said Queensland Labor had “not received any ­donations from dedicated aged-care providers”.

“Queenslanders know donations haven’t influenced Labor policy because Labor is calling for initiatives opposed by the industry.

“In contrast, the LNP has ­consistently held the industry ­position,” she said.

In June, the federal government’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy rejected mandatory staffing ratios, noting criticism they were a “blunt” tool that would ­not necessarily result in better ­outcomes.

The LNP has cautioned against driving up costs for aged-care providers, saying it could force them out of business and push patients into hospitals.

“We should be striving to have a world-class aged-care system that is affordable for everyone,” a spokesman said.

Mr Miles said the government was committed to imposing staff-to-patient ratios in Queensland’s 16 government-owned aged care facilities.

“It is time for the federal ­government to do the same. They do not need to wait for a royal ­commission,” he said.