Additional comments by Labor Senators
While Labor Senators support
the recommendations of the report, they do not agree that the whistleblower
protections outlined in the Bill should be limited to only those who report the
sexual or physical assault of residents of aged care. As noted in the Aged Care
Crisis Team's submission, whistleblowers are 'only protected if they report
reportable offences.' However there are many aspects to potential elder abuse
which were highlighted in the Health Services Union submission:
The legislative amendments before Parliament, though largely
positive, are limited and do not address many aspects of abuse of older
persons, particularly in regards to prevention.
A guidance list on elder abuse issued by the Department of
Health in the UK in 2000 identified six main forms of abuse: physical abuse,
sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial or material abuse, neglect and
acts of omission and discriminatory abuse. Thus, abuse of older people has many
different dimensions.
In the Quality and equity in aged care inquiry in 2005, the
Committee recommended the 'Commonwealth examine the feasibility of introducing
whistleblower legislation to provide protection for people, especially staff of
aged care facilities, disclosing allegations of inadequate standards of care or
other deficiencies in aged care facilities'. Labor Senators note that the
Government has still not responded to this recommendation.
Labor Senators recommend that the whistleblower protections
in the Bill be extended to include all forms of potential abuse of elderly
people in residential aged care. This extension should include deficiencies in
nutrition, hydration, hygiene, verbal and emotional abuse or financial fraud as
well as any other instances of inadequate care.
It is in the interests of
residents of aged care facilities and the broader Australian community for
whistleblowers to be able to report not only reportable assaults but also to be
able raise quality of care issues without fear of victimisation, reprisal and
termination of employment.
Recommendation:
That the Bill be amended to afford whistleblower protection
to people who report, on reasonable grounds, any form of abuse or neglect in
residential aged care.
Senator Claire Moore
ALP, Queensland |
Senator Carol Brown
ALP, Tasmania |
|
|
Senator Helen Polley
ALP, Tasmania |
Senator Jan McLucas
ALP, Queensland |
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page