MARK BUTLER MP AND JULIA GILLARD PM: SING ASKS ONCE AGAIN - WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
LYNDA SALTARELLI: AS YOU WELL KNOW, PUBLIC INTEREST WHISTLEBLOWERS HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT SERIOUS ASSAULTS IN NURSING HOMES ONLY TO BE VILIFIED, SACKED, SUSPENDED OR OSTRACIZED FOR DOING SO.
MARK BUTLER MP: THE FULL TRUTH OF INCREASING NURSING HOME ASSAULTS WILL NEVER BE TOLD WHEN THOSE WANTING TO SPEAK OUT ARE AFRAID THEIR EMPLOYMENT WILL BE TERMINATED IF THEY DO. THEY ARE QUITE CORRECT, MINISTER - THEY WILL PAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IF THEY SPEAK OUT.
MARK BUTLER MP AND LYNDA SALTARELLI: HOW HAS UNDER-STAFFING EVER BEEN OR WILL EVER BE AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE/ REASON FOR A STAFF MEMBER ASSAULTING A NURSING HOME RESIDENT?
MARK BUTLER MP: WHY WOULD ANY THINKING CITIZEN BELIEVE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT AGED CARE SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT/NEGLECT WHEN THEY KNOW THOSE WITH THE CREDIBLE EVIDENCE ARE NEVER INTERVIEWED OR CONTACTED? SING HAS EVIDENCE THAT MANY CREDIBLE NURSING HOME STAFF HAVE REPORTED WRONGDOING TO MANAGEMENT, ONLY TO BE FOBBED OFF, RIDICULED OR VICTIMISED. CREDIBLE STAFF KNOW REPRISAL BY MANAGEMENT IS ALIVE AND WELL AGAINST ANY STAFF MEMBER WHO DARES TO SPEAK OUT. PUBLIC INTEREST WHISTLEBLOWERS ARE VILIFIED - ABUSERS FLOURISH.
SING HAS DOCUMENTED EMAIL EVIDENCE THAT ONE PUBLIC INTEREST WHISTLEBLOWER HAD HER EMPLOYMENT JEOPARDISED BY SENIOR MANAGEMENT AFTER SHE REPORTED ABUSE AT EVENTIDE NURSING HOME SANDGATE/BRIGHTON, BRISBANE - A QUEENSLAND HEALTH FACILITY.
BUT YOU KNOW THIS IS CORRECT MINISTER. OPEN UP THE CAN OF WORMS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL KNOW OF THE ATROCIOUS CONDITION THAT IS OUR AGED CARE SYSTEM.
MARK BUTLER MP: SING WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM WHICH ORGANISATIONS YOU ACTUALLY GATHER YOUR EVIDENCE? IT APPEARS THAT IT DOES NOT COME FROM COAL FACE STAFF COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO SPEAK OUT. AN ANSWER FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PUBLISHED ON SING.
Please view video on right of SING's website: (1a) 7News exclusive: aged care assaults increasing.
