Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington has condemned the Palaszczuk Labor Government for covering up the shocking physical and sexual abuse of residents in state-run aged care homes.
The catalogue of 16 disturbing incidents was only uncovered by a right-to-information request and Labor is refusing to release details of which facilities were involved.
“It is sickening that vulnerable old people have been physically and sexually abused in state-run facilities that are meant to care for them,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to stop the cover-up and tell Queenslanders what has happened, where it happened and what she is doing about it.
“Once again, Labor is more interested in covering up scandals than in tackling them.
“Elder abuse is a despicable and cowardly crime.
“Every family has a right to know if their loved one is at risk of abuse.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates accused Annastacia Palaszczuk of blatant hypocrisy after the Premier last month promised to ‘name and shame’ private care homes with low staffing ratios.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk threatened to name private care facilities over staffing levels, but she won’t identify state-run homes where old people have suffered disgusting abuse,” Ms Bates said.
“There’s one rule for the Palaszczuk Labor Government and another rule for everyone else.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk must drop her double standards and guarantee the safety of residents in state-run aged care.”
In 2018 it was revealed that two state-run care facilities – Cooinda House, Redcliffe, and the Dr EAF McDonald Nursing Home in Oakey – failed inspections, with inspectors reporting that residents were exposed to ‘serious risk’.
“The warning signs have been there for a long time, but Labor chose to ignore them,” Ms Bates said.
