Senator McLucas - My question is to Senator Herron, representing the Minister for Aged Care. Can the Minister confirm that during an inspection of the Alchera Park Nursing Home on 15 March a number of problems were identified that remain outstanding from a complaint lodged in November last year following the deaths of residents? Why did the Minister for Aged Care claim that all these complaints were resolved satisfactorily on 18 January this year when the complainants remain unsatisfied and the government's own standards agency identified continuing problems in the home on 15 March? Is the Minister aware that a daughter of one of the deceased residents claims her father received better treatment as a prisoner of war in the Changi prison than he did at Alchera Park Nursing Home?

I ask a supplementary question. Unfortunately, the minister did not go to the issue of why the Minister for Aged Care claimed these complaints were satisfactorily resolved. However, I also ask: how long do the families of the residents who died last year suffering dehydration and gangrene have to wait until their concerns are answered?

Senator Herron - Senator McLucas asked me a number of questions relating to the Alchera Park Nursing Home yesterday. I undertook to see if any further information was available. I am now able to provide the following:

The visit by the Agency to Alchera Park Nursing Home on 15 March 2000 was to follow up the progress on implementing the improvement plan developed by the service in response to previous complaints and Agency visits. The visit was requested by the Department specifically to enable the Department to provide a complete report to the complainant.

The Minister was advised by the Department that the complaint was settled on 18 January 2000. I am informed that the complainant had always agreed that if all the improvements imposed were to be implemented, then this would be satisfactory. It was on this basis that the complaint was considered finalised by the Department.

The proprietor of Alchera Park has now engaged consultants with significant industry experience to manage the facility and to make the necessary improvements. The complainant has recently indicated that she is satisfied with the action now being taken in respect of Alchera Park.