Department undermined aged care inquiry, claims report

The Senate’s Finance and Public Administration committee has accused the Department of Health and Ageing of compromising its inquiry into aged care.

Australian Ageing Agenda online reports that in its final report the committee slammed the department for its failure to cooperate, expressing “considerable disappointment”.

“Not only was the department’s submission received some two months after the due date, it also provided only factual information and did not address or comment on the major issues of concern raised by providers and other interested stakeholders, many of which are longstanding and well-known,” the committee said in its report.

The Senators claimed the department did not respond adequately to concerns raised in the hearings.

They added that senior officers from the department displayed a “less than forthcoming attitude”, forcing the committee to seek a second submission from them.

“It is unfortunate that in this instance the department’s initial response to the inquiry was inadequate and its approach less than helpful,” the report said.

“As a result, the committee’s final deliberations were delayed and undermined and the capacity of the committee to effectively review the matter has therefore been compromised.

“The direct consequence of this has been to impede the committee’s capacity to report to the Senate on the matter”.