Opposition Chief Anthony Albanese commenced in the present day's Query Time by firing a shot at Aged Care Providers Minister Richard Colbeck, after controversial feedback made in Senate Estimates.
"The Minister for Aged Care Providers stated and I quote: 'I do not settle for the deaths in the neighborhood or deaths in aged care as a sign' of his efficiency as a minister," Mr Albanese stated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was fast to defend his colleague and accused the Opposition of enjoying politics.
"For each life that has been misplaced, which we grieve, we give thanks for the hundreds of lives which have been saved by the actions of our aged care staff, aged care suppliers," he stated.
The minister got here below hearth earlier this 12 months after attending a cricket recreation as a substitute of a COVID-19 Senate Committee.
Mr Morrison has beforehand stated the pair have "spoken about it" and "my desire would have been that he could be at that listening to and he understands that".
When questioned in estimates about it in the present day, Senator Colbeck defended his personal feedback that the aged care system was not in disaster, regardless of the stress from COVID-19 and the Omicron outbreak.
He is additionally rejected calls by Labor and the Greens to resign.
"We're going via a world pandemic, and the suggestion that is implied by your reply that when you had been in authorities nobody would have died in aged care from COVID would not get up," he stated.
"The federal government is the one get together that may present anybody with any confidence about the way forward for the aged care sector as a result of the opposition has no plan."
Well being consultants stated this 12 months has already been the deadliest for aged care residents because the begin of the pandemic.
Virtually 700 residents have died in COVID-19 outbreaks whereas nearly a 3rd of the nation's residential aged care houses are at present battling coronavirus outbreaks.