Mr PALLAS (Tarneit) — Just over a year ago I visited residents and staff at the only government-owned nursing home in the city of Wyndham, South Stone Lodge, with the Leader of the Opposition and Ms Jenny Mikakos, a member for the Northern Metropolitan Region and the shadow minister for seniors and ageing in the other place. The visit was prompted by the state Liberal government’s plans to slash $75 million from public sector aged care by privatising and selling off aged-care facilities, which naturally has caused a great deal of anxiety and concern for residents living in government-owned facilities as well as for the staff who care for them.

Yesterday those fears were realised, with the Napthine government’s decision to close South Stone Lodge this coming December, news which was communicated in a briefing with staff at 2.30 p.m.

Having met the staff at South Stone Lodge, I know their concerns will be for the residents at the facility, even though their own futures are now unclear. The Premier needs to finally explain to these workers and the people they care for why the government is selling off the care of our seniors to the highest bidder. Perhaps even more importantly, given the population growth among the aged and given that demand for aged care in the west is not being met by private providers, the Premier must make good on his commitment that there will be no loss of aged-care places through any transfers.