The Chair of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce was offered $20,000 a month by the then-Aged Care Minister in the letter dated 21 September 2018 short after its report was released.
The role – which the Minister says would include supporting the development of an industry leadership group to take the strategy forward; providing guidance on immediate priorities such as the voluntary code of practice and Remote Accord; developing a plan of action; and advising the Minister’s Department on progress – also included travel, accommodation and advisory and logistical support.
“It is my expectation that much of the above can be achieved over the next three to six months,” the Mr Wyatt writes.
What is interesting is the expectant tone that Professor Pollaers would take up the role.
“Helen Grinbergs, Assistant Secretary Age Care Policy Reform from my Department will liaise with you to settle contract details. Accordingly, I would be grateful if you would confirm your formal acceptance of the above arrangements,” the letter concludes.
The Chair had regularly penned editorials for the major newspapers during his tenure as Chair – but evidently didn’t take up the offer.
As we reported last week, Professor Pollaers appeared at the Monday hearing and expressed disappointment that he had not received a formal response on the implementation of the report’s 14 strategic actions.
The letter – along with a five-page email chain between the Professor and the Minister’s then Chief of Staff Dr Nicholas Hartland PSM – were submitted by the Commonwealth as evidence of a ‘formal response.
Senior Counsel Assisting Peter Rozen QC however took issue with this assessment during the questioning of witnesses from the Department of Health.
“But you know what a formal response by government is to a report like that is, don’t you?” he asked Secretary Glenys Beauchamp. “It’s a publicly produced document setting out the government’s response to recommendations or, in this case, strategic actions. That’s a formal response by government to a report of that nature, isn’t it?”
“A formal response can take many forms,” Ms Beauchamp replied.
Would Professor Pollaers’ stewardship have furthered progress on the workforce strategy?
Possibly – but Mr Rozen’s closing comment that the Government has been “missing in action” on the issue of aged care staffing suggests the offer was another example of the Commonwealth negating its responsibility to the sector.
