Scomo cops state aged care roasting

QUEENSLAND’S Deputy Premier Steven Miles has continued his state’s attack on the federal aged care response, declaring the situation a “national disgrace”.

Mr Miles told journalists on Friday the state would not be experiencing near the level of deaths it was if the Prime Minister had invested in getting Queensland’s most vulnerable boosted.

“What’s happening in aged care in Australia right now is nothing short of a national disgrace,” Mr Miles said.

“More than 1000 nursing homes are experiencing a live outbreak right now.”

Health Minister Yvette D’ath this week roasted the federal government for apparently offloading its aged care responsibilities onto the states and being lax with booster shot data.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday announced a special task force would be set up to look into the aged care booster program and implored families of the 74,000 un-boosted aged care residents to consent to having their loved ones jabbed again.

But Mr Miles said the situation was wider than that, and said staff shortages across the state due to Covid had left residents isolating in their rooms.

“We have elderly residents not being bathed, not getting food, not getting the medical care that they need and the national government should be doing absolutely everything,” Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles’ comments came as Queensland reported 6857 new cases and 13 deaths on Friday.

Of the fatalities, three had received their booster and nine were in aged care.

Only 70 per cent of Queenslanders above the age of 70 have received the booster as deaths of people in aged care skyrocket to more than half the overall tally of fatalities in the state.