The aged care crisis in Victoria was again front and centre this week.
The state now has at least 10 facilities with 100 COVID-19 cases or more.
And the big question is, where does responsibility lie?
At a time when you’d think cooperation is the name of the game, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews haven’t always appeared to be on the same page.
Wednesday was a great example.
In his daily briefing, Premier Andrews pointed out 2,050 of the then-active cases were linked to private aged care settings, regulated by the Federal Government, while only five active cases were linked to public sector facilities controlled by the State Government.
The Premier was asked if he meant anything by this comparison.
“People can make their own judgments, I’m not seeking to make any other point than the facts, and they are the facts and I’ve consistently presented them that way,” he said.
“And if it’s if it’s OK by you, I’ll continue to do that. That is the appropriate thing to do.”
Comments from the PM weren’t encouraging either.
When asked about the Commonwealth’s accountability for Victoria’s aged care outbreaks, the Prime Minister said aged care is a “complex set of responsibilities”.
“We regulate aged care, but when there is a public health pandemic, then public health, whether it gets into aged care, shopping centres, schools or anywhere else, then they are things that are for Victoria. So, I don’t think that it is as binary as you suggest.”
But at least now there are some signs of action.
As reported in our sister newsletter The Daily RESOURCE, the Government is set to introduce national infection control teams that would be deployed to prevent future outbreaks.
The plan is due to be taken to National Cabinet today and would see a blueprint with actions like mandating the use of private hospitals in response to outbreaks and training of a ‘surge’ workforce for cases that involve rapid response.
Encouragingly, the PM also flagged new aged care spending in the 2021 Federal Budget.
This will come in response to the Final Report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which is due on 26 February 2021.
“I would hope the Aged Care Royal Commission will be able to give us some important insight and (its report) will be handed down before next year’s Budget which will give us the opportunity, I think, to provide a comprehensive response at that time,” he said.
They’re encouraging words, and hopefully action will follow.
