E&OE…
Topics: Ann Sudmalis; My Health Record; Aged Care Royal Commission
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Canberra is once again in the spotlight this morning with yet another Liberal MP announcing she will quit Parliament as a result of bullying allegations. Health Minister Greg Hunt joins us now on a very busy morning to talk about a range of things. But let’s start with that one. Good morning, to you Health Minister. Boy oh boy your party has a serious health problem this morning from the women within.
GREG HUNT:
Good morning, Karl. Look, I think that Ann is a wonderful person and I’m very sorry to see her retiring. I know her well and she’s been a great representative and we will miss her very dearly. And I was talking with her only yesterday and we’re very, very close.
And so, she’s been hurt by some of the things that have happened locally and that should be absolutely ruthlessly reviewed at the state level. But I know that she’s very close to Scott Morrison, very close to myself and her concerns are at the local level but as I say, they should be ruthlessly reviewed by the state division.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
This is a big problem. Ann won’t contest the next election, as you say, after citing a culture of bullying, betrayal and backstabbing by state member Gareth Ward. Are you embarrassed about the treatment of women in your own party?
GREG HUNT:
No, I’m resolute and deeply concerned that cases such as that can arise.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
So, what is your party doing to fix it then? Because it needs to be fixed.
GREG HUNT:
Well, I think there are two things to do. Firstly at the federal level, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has immediately conducted a review of all of our processes but secondly we need to get more good quality women into Parliament.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Why would they go in if there’s a culture of bullying?
GREG HUNT:
Well, I think that there is immense possibility and potential to have an impact on the country, to have a positive impact for people right across Australia.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
But why would they enter politics and your party in particular if there exists a culture of bullying and betrayal?
GREG HUNT:
Well, I think what we see there with Ann’s case is that there is something which is clearly, utterly unacceptable which has occurred. And as somebody who is a very close friend, I saw yesterday when I spoke with her, the distress that she’s faced. So as I say, a ruthless review is what needs to occur at that level.
But more significantly our task, whether it’s people that I know I have supported and encouraged to come in such as Nicolle Flint or Georgina Downer, Kate Ashmor – who’s a new candidate in Victoria – people such as Jane Hume.
You get incredible women coming in but we need to do more to encourage more of these amazing women to come into Parliament because if half your team is in the shed, your team on the field is simply not as good.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Less than a quarter in your team are women. That’s not just perception, that’s a massive issue.
GREG HUNT:
Look, I agree that we will not be fully represented even until we get to 50 per cent plus or minus five per cent in either direction. That’s why I know when I’ve been appointing boards, such as the Mental Health Commission, we’ve had on merit, three-quarters women, the Cancer Australia Board on merit 62 per cent women. And my goal is not just within our health boards and our health leadership where it’s clear that there’s the talent and the capacity to do the same within the party because we can achieve, we should achieve parity across gender lines within the party and it’s a deep personal passion.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay we’ve got a lot- hopefully, let’s get that done but let’s bounce through a couple of the other issues – some big ones. You’ve got a health problem also with the My Health Record scheme with a million Aussies opting-out. Labor wants you to halt the rollout. Is that best at this point? Can you guarantee privacy and cyber security?
GREG HUNT:
Well, we’ve run for six-years and this, of course, was a Labor system. And it’s run with bipartisan support for six-years. And what we see now is that it’s about a three per cent opt-out rate, we were expecting 10. So, as the head of the Digital Health Agency said yesterday, the opt-ins are far higher than we were expecting, the opt-outs are far lower. But this is ultimately about saving lives and protecting lives.
It’s a system so as if you go to the emergency and you’re not able to recite your history because you’ve been in an accident, if somebody has multiple chronic conditions and they are suffering, that record is there when it’s needed for the moment that you need it. And this is something that is fundamental to the future of health care in Australia.
At the moment, six-million Australians are operating for six-years without incident. It has the potential to be, I think, the best system in the world. And in the end it’s about giving people access to their own medical records for the first time on their own terms where they have complete control over it.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay. Last night a Four Corners investigation lifted the lid on the aged care sector. There’s been reports of two registered nurses caring for up to 72 residents at a time. Now, that needs to be fixed today, doesn’t it? And this royal commission is going to take some time. What are we doing today to protect our elderly?
GREG HUNT:
So, any individual cases that are raised and where the details have been and will be provided by Four Corners, we will have investigated immediately. I repeat, we will have investigated immediately. But there’s both the individual and the national. We’ve called a royal commission because Scott Morrison, myself, Ken Wyatt, the Cabinet wanted to ensure that we have both protection for our seniors but also planning for the ageing population which is with us now.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Two on 72 doesn’t work any day of the week.
GREG HUNT:
Well, that’s exactly the sort of reason why we have called a royal commission and we will investigate.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Yeah, but what happens now? What happens now, an investigation’s going to take 18-months what happens now in an aged care facility where there are two staff members looking after 72 people?
GREG HUNT:
As I said, Karl, with the first time you asked, there’s both a royal commission and immediate investigations through the current agency. So, I think that’s important to understand, immediate investigation through the current agency, not waiting, not relying on other things.
But the overwhelming majority of seniors who are in nursing homes in Australia have extraordinary care, the overwhelming majority of nurses in facilities do an incredible job but we are not– and I think it is very, very important to provide that confidence to Australians but at the same time we’re not waiting, we’re having a royal commission which deals with the systemic challenges of an ageing population but we also have the regulatory authorities that are investigating immediately.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Greg, thanks for your time today. Busy day. Appreciate it. Georgie.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks Karl.
(ENDS)