Sunrise host steps up and takes charge in a heated debate over aged care reform
- Replies 12
It was a debate that quickly increased in intensity until a Sunrise host was forced to intervene and break up a potentially ugly feud between two political leaders.
On Wednesday morning, Natalie Barr questioned Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Liberal Senator Jane Hume over aged care reforms – which quickly turned into a heated debate.
Before things got out of hand, the TV presenter took the reins and ensured that both sides of the argument were heard and understood by viewers.
Barr began the interview by pointing out that at least 23 aged care facilities had closed since September last year amid new reforms made by the Albanese government.
She questioned whether Labour had moved too quickly in implementing its promise of aged care homes having a mandatory nurse on duty 24 hours a day.
Minister O’Neil argued that the aged care royal commission’s findings showed the former Government liable for ‘subjecting elderly Australians to shocking neglect’.
‘We saw widespread malnutrition in aged care, we saw elderly Australians drugged because their behaviour couldn’t be properly managed, we saw people falling out of bed in the middle of the night, unable to get care,’ she stated before adding that this happened because the former government’s budget cuts and because they ‘treated the sector disgracefully’.
Minister O’Neil went on to say the government's goal was to 'look after Australians with the dignity they deserve', which saw a slew of changes be introduced.
‘Part of that is making sure we have a nurse in every nursing home, the most basic thing you think would already be provided in this country a long time ago,’ she claimed.
The minister also called on the opposition to show ‘a little bit of contrition’ for how they handled – and contributed – to the situation.
‘We're not going to apologise for fixing up the mess of the former Government; we are going to forge forward and make sure that we give these people proper dignity and care,’ she said, ending her piece.
On the other hand, Senator Hume accused the current government of 'propagating the problem' and of ‘wrongly expediting’ the inquiry's findings.
She said that forcing nurses into aged care facilities too soon would allegedly cause more homes to go out of business.
The senator suggested that some aged care residences should be granted exemptions if they were unable to meet the new requirements. What followed was a heated back-and-forth between the two political leaders.
Minister O’Neil said: ‘We now need a bit of responsibility and shame and contrition from the former Government for what you did to this sector and how you treated elderly people.’
Senator Hume fired back: ‘Actually, this was your policy when you were the Shadow Minister, Clare, and now the homes are shutting.’
Minister O’Neil argued: ‘Yeah, and it's a really good policy, and you are saying that we should not have a nurse in every nursing home?’
At this point, Barr tried intervening but was barely able to get a word in.
At some point during the interview, Minister O'Neil dismissed the argument that implementing 24/7 nurses ahead of schedule was detrimental to aged care residents.
She argued: 'What we are saying is that we’ve got a bold ambition to properly care for elderly people as quickly as we can, because every year that we wait … every day that we wait, more people are being mistreated.'
‘It’s pushing people out of homes,’ was Senator Hume’s response.
With the debate reaching a fever pitch, Barr decided it was time to step in, mediating the exchange and ensuring the audience was able to digest the points made by both sides of the argument.
‘Okay. Okay. Look, I think you've both had your say, and you know, people can make up their own minds because this affects every family in Australia,’ the TV host said.
You can read the full transcript of the interview here.
This comes after Natalie Barr and David Koch’s interview with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb earlier this week. The discussion was about the incident that occurred at Yallambee Lodge aged care facility, where a 95-year-old grandmother named Clare, who has sadly passed away, was tasered by a police officer after allegedly failing to drop a knife while approaching the authority figure.
The TV hosts grilled the police commissioner over the matter, which opened up discourse over training for aged care staff and reforms. You can read more details about this case here.
Do you have an opinion on this aged care reform? If so, then please don’t hesitate to share it with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
On Wednesday morning, Natalie Barr questioned Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Liberal Senator Jane Hume over aged care reforms – which quickly turned into a heated debate.
Before things got out of hand, the TV presenter took the reins and ensured that both sides of the argument were heard and understood by viewers.
Barr began the interview by pointing out that at least 23 aged care facilities had closed since September last year amid new reforms made by the Albanese government.
She questioned whether Labour had moved too quickly in implementing its promise of aged care homes having a mandatory nurse on duty 24 hours a day.
A heated debate occurred live on air. Credit: Donald Tong/Pexels
Minister O’Neil argued that the aged care royal commission’s findings showed the former Government liable for ‘subjecting elderly Australians to shocking neglect’.
‘We saw widespread malnutrition in aged care, we saw elderly Australians drugged because their behaviour couldn’t be properly managed, we saw people falling out of bed in the middle of the night, unable to get care,’ she stated before adding that this happened because the former government’s budget cuts and because they ‘treated the sector disgracefully’.
Minister O’Neil went on to say the government's goal was to 'look after Australians with the dignity they deserve', which saw a slew of changes be introduced.
‘Part of that is making sure we have a nurse in every nursing home, the most basic thing you think would already be provided in this country a long time ago,’ she claimed.
The discussion was over aged care reforms. Credit: Matthias Zomer/Pexels
The minister also called on the opposition to show ‘a little bit of contrition’ for how they handled – and contributed – to the situation.
‘We're not going to apologise for fixing up the mess of the former Government; we are going to forge forward and make sure that we give these people proper dignity and care,’ she said, ending her piece.
On the other hand, Senator Hume accused the current government of 'propagating the problem' and of ‘wrongly expediting’ the inquiry's findings.
She said that forcing nurses into aged care facilities too soon would allegedly cause more homes to go out of business.
The senator suggested that some aged care residences should be granted exemptions if they were unable to meet the new requirements. What followed was a heated back-and-forth between the two political leaders.
Minister O’Neil said: ‘We now need a bit of responsibility and shame and contrition from the former Government for what you did to this sector and how you treated elderly people.’
Senator Hume fired back: ‘Actually, this was your policy when you were the Shadow Minister, Clare, and now the homes are shutting.’
Minister O’Neil argued: ‘Yeah, and it's a really good policy, and you are saying that we should not have a nurse in every nursing home?’
At this point, Barr tried intervening but was barely able to get a word in.
At some point during the interview, Minister O'Neil dismissed the argument that implementing 24/7 nurses ahead of schedule was detrimental to aged care residents.
She argued: 'What we are saying is that we’ve got a bold ambition to properly care for elderly people as quickly as we can, because every year that we wait … every day that we wait, more people are being mistreated.'
‘It’s pushing people out of homes,’ was Senator Hume’s response.
With the debate reaching a fever pitch, Barr decided it was time to step in, mediating the exchange and ensuring the audience was able to digest the points made by both sides of the argument.
‘Okay. Okay. Look, I think you've both had your say, and you know, people can make up their own minds because this affects every family in Australia,’ the TV host said.
You can read the full transcript of the interview here.
This comes after Natalie Barr and David Koch’s interview with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb earlier this week. The discussion was about the incident that occurred at Yallambee Lodge aged care facility, where a 95-year-old grandmother named Clare, who has sadly passed away, was tasered by a police officer after allegedly failing to drop a knife while approaching the authority figure.
The TV hosts grilled the police commissioner over the matter, which opened up discourse over training for aged care staff and reforms. You can read more details about this case here.
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under LNP government bugger all got done parasites 
