Friction between aged care industry and Dept of Health and Ageing

Private aged care operator in Queensland and Victoria, TriCare’s chief executive officer, Jim Toohey, has told a Parliamentary inquiry into aged care that there is a “vast gulf between the sector and the bureaucrats in Canberra”, according to an official transcript of committee proceedings.

“There is a perception in the sector that the department has gone beyond simply providing advice to Government and has moved into the area of advocating particular policy settlements, such as maintenance of the status quo regardless of what the statistics say,” he said.

However Mr Toohey said he had a strong relationship with the department’s state offices.

“I find the local Queensland people we have dealt with…very helpful, much more aware of industry developments and, generally, prepared to work with the sector,” he said.

The comments echo those made by Aged and Community Services Tasmania President, Susan Parr, at the Hobart hearing at the end of March.

Ms Parr told the inquiry that the department was “abusive and exploitative” towards the sector.